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CDFA and CalEPA Regulatory Alignment Study

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is working with Crowe LLP and their partner, Blankinship & Associates, (collectively, Crowe) to conduct a regulatory alignment study. CDFA, in collaboration with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), are working with Crowe to evaluate agriculture's food safety and water quality regulatory reporting requirements as part of an effort to streamline the administrative processes and optimize information collected by the state. As part of the process, Crowe will map current CDFA and State Water Board ag-related food safety and water quality reporting requirements and prepare a final report with recommendations. The study is projected to be completed by 2025.

Concept Paper update

As part of the process, Crowe has completed a concept paper that will be discussed at a pair of upcoming webinars (more information below).

• Concept Paper
• Executive Summary

Objectives of the Regulatory Alignment Study

1. Evaluate state regulatory requirements within the areas of water quality and food safety for the agricultural community and identify environmental and public health protections.
2. Conduct listening sessions to gather input from the agricultural community relating to their experiences with the reporting requirements and process in these areas.
3. Convene the agricultural community and regulators to review and map existing regulatory pathways for water quality and food safety to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and information sharing.
4. Identify and prepare implementation plans for recommended process improvements to streamline reporting requirements.
5. Provide recommendations to CDFA, CalEPA, and the State Water Board for technological enhancement to ease the administrative burden of the agricultural community.

How can I stay involved in the Regulatory Alignment Study?

There are upcoming opportunities for stakeholder and community input:

• Webinar, May 14, 2024 at 10 am
  Please click the link below to join the webinar:
  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83675314256
  Passcode: CDFA2024!

• Webinar, May 15, 2024 at 5:30 pm
  Please click the link below to join the webinar:
  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83601251716
  Passcode: CDFA2024!