So Setanta brought up HIPPA in relation to communicable disease and I have been doing some research on if we were in compliance with FSSC and the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations for those who don't follow USA laws) I found this on the HIPPA website:
- Quality, safety or effectiveness of a product or activity regulated by the FDA. Covered entities may disclose protected health information to a person subject to FDA jurisdiction, for public health purposes related to the quality, safety or effectiveness of an FDA-regulated product or activity for which that person has responsibility. Examples of purposes or activities for which such disclosures may be made include, but are not limited to:
- Collecting or reporting adverse events (including similar reports regarding food and dietary supplements), product defects or problems (including problems regarding use or labeling), or biological product deviations;
- Tracking FDA-regulated products;
- Enabling product recalls, repairs, replacement or lookback (which includes locating and notifying individuals who received recalled or withdrawn products or products that are the subject of lookback); and
Conducting post-marketing surveillance. See 45 CFR 164.512(b)(1)(iii). The “person” subject to the jurisdiction of the FDA does not have to be a specific individual. Rather, it can be an individual or an entity, such as a partnership, corporation, or association. Covered entities may identify the party or parties responsible for an FDA-regulated product from the product label, from written material that accompanies the product (know as labeling), or from sources of labeling, such as the Physician’s Desk Reference.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/publichealth/index.html
As food is an FDA regulated product HIPPA does not apply to food manufacturers in relation to their status as a disease carrier if it could be transported through the food.
At least that's how I read what I found on the HIPPA website. I found it under the "Public Health" section of their website http://www.hhs.gov/o...alth/index.html
so... what do you all think? Am I leading my corporate offices to destruction?
Edited by Mr. Incognito, 10 July 2014 - 03:06 PM.