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| Script:
Small Business Administration’s, Office of the National
Ombudsman |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service podcast. Each episode
will bring you cutting edge news and information about how FSIS is working to ensure public
health protection through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured that
your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, properly labeled,
and packaged correctly. So turn up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello, and welcome. This is Alexandra Tarrant from FSIS.
Joining me today is Ralph Stafko, Director of the State
Outreach and Technical Assistance Staff in the FSIS
Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training, or
OOEET. He’s here to talk about the Small Business
Administration’s, Office of the National Ombudsman.
The OOEET staff also operates the FSIS Small Plant Help
Desk, which provides information and guidance on agency
functions, resources, requirements and procedures. Thank
you for joining us today, Ralph.
Guest:
My pleasure, Alex, and thanks for the plug on the Small
Plant Help Desk, we’re really proud of that. This is a
new service to small plant operators or anyone else for
that matter who has a question about our agency. Callers
get a real live person who will answer their questions
and answer them promptly. The Help Desk operates
weekdays, 8 to 4, Eastern Standard. The toll-free number
is: 1-877-FSIS-HELP; that’s 1-877-374-7435. Questions
can also be e-mailed to our mailbox at
infosource@fsis.usda.gov.
Host:
Good to know. Thanks, Ralph. Now tell us about the
mission of the Small Business Administration’s Office of
the National Ombudsman.
Guest:
Sure. That’s a creation of the 1996 Small Business
Regulatory Reform Act—we often refer to it as SBREFA.
The National Ombudsman’s Office is a key feature of that
Act and their primary task is to assist small businesses
in the U.S. that believe they’ve been subject to
excessive or unfair federal regulatory actions. These
could be things like repetitive, unjustified audits or
investigations, excessive fines, unfair penalties,
threats, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action
by any federal agency.
Host:
So is that assistance in addition to the FSIS appeals
process that our listeners may be familiar with?
Guest:
Yes, that’s correct. Presently, FSIS-inspected plants
have a right to appeal any inspection decision through a
structured agency appeals process. In fact, FSIS
encourages plant owners and operators to appeal
inspection and enforcement decisions that they believe
are unfair or not consistent with applicable regulatory
standards.
Using the FSIS appeals process allows for disagreements
between plant owners and operators and FSIS inspectors
be fully aired and properly reviewed by the responsible
program managers.
Host:
What happens if the decision is not agreed to by a plant
owner or operator?
Guest: If an owner or operator has already gone through
the FSIS appeals process and is not satisfied with the
result, at that point they may choose to file a comment
or complaint with the National Ombudsman.
Since 1996, the Ombudsman has been serving in that role
receiving complaints from small business owners and
acting as a liaison between them and the more than 35
federal regulatory agencies.
Host:
So, what happens to the complaints when they are
received by the Ombudsman?
Guest:
The complaints received from small businesses are
transmitted by the Ombudsman to the relevant federal
agency with a request that the agency reconsider that
action and the fairness of the enforcement underlying
it.
Now, it’s important to note that the National Ombudsman
cannot change, stop, or delay a federal agency
enforcement action, nor can they assist in
non-regulatory matters.
The Ombudsman does, however, provide a third party that
can demand another look when a regulated business
believes it was treated unfairly by an agency.
The Ombudsman, once involved, serves as a liaison
between the plant manager and the agency and can call
for meetings if required.
Host:
Interesting. So, how can our listeners get more
information on the National Ombudsman?
Guest:
For more information on the Small Business
Administration’s Office of the National Ombudsman, you
can call them toll-free at 1-888-REG-FAIR or
1-888-734-3247. You can also fax to 202-481-5719, or
e-mail to
ombudsman@sba.gov. You can also visit their
website at www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
Host:
Ralph, thank you for your time today. You’ve provided a
lot of useful information for establishment owners and
operators.
Guest:
Thanks for having me, Alex.
Host:
Thank you all for listening, and remember, if you have
questions or ideas for a podcast, please e-mail them to
podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback on our podcast. Or if you
have ideas for future podcasts, send us an e-mail at podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more
about food safety, try our web site at www.fsis.usda.govv.
Thanks for tuning in.
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Last Modified: May 12, 2010 |
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