FDA interest in Blockchain for food security

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Reference: FDA2066160
Dear Requester,
This is to confirm that you submitted a request for record(s) from the Food and Drug Administration
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.
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if so, you will receive another email as a formal acknowledgement of your request, with a control number for your request.
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or if there are any other deficiencies with your submission, FOIA staff will contact you via telephone or email.

Sam Reynolds Sam Reynolds
Re: Confirmation # FDA2066160
Requester Ctrl #:
In Reply refer to: 2020-4974
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records regarding:
Memos, internal presentations, or emails regarding the FDA's interest in pilot projects to use blockchain technology for food security - Copies of marketing material presented to FDA staff with regards to blockchain technology for food security Date: Jan 1 2018 - July 3 2020
We will respond as soon as possible and may charge you a fee for processing your request. If your informational needs change, and you no longer need the requested records, please contact us to cancel your request, as charges may be incurred once processing of your request has begun. For more information on processing fees, please see http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/FOI/FOIAFees/default.htm.
Due to an increase in the number of incoming requests, we may be unable to comply with the twenty-working-day time limit in this case, as well as the ten additional days provided by the FOIA. The actual processing time will depend on the complexity of your request and whether sensitive records, voluminous records, extensive search, and/or consultation with other HHS components or other executive branch agencies are involved. Please note that requests for medical device approval records (e.g. 510K, PMA, DEN) may take up to 18 to 24 months to process.
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Rockville, MD 20857
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Dear Requestor,

After a diligent search of Erik Mettler's [Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy/Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)] files, the Division of Information Disclosure Policy - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ORA office of the Food and Drug Administration does not have records responsive to your request 2020-4974 dated 07/06/2020 regarding:

Memos, internal presentations, or emails regarding the FDA's interest in pilot projects to use blockchain technology for food security - Copies of marketing material presented to FDA staff with regards to blockchain technology for food security Date: Jan 1 2018 - July 3 2020.

If you have any questions about this response, you may contact Karen Robles at 916 930 3674 ext 1114 or Karen.Robles@fda.hhs.gov<mailto:Karen.Robles@fda.hhs.gov>.

Please be advised that your request may have been submitted to multiple component offices within FDA to conduct a search for records including. These offices will reply to you directly. This is not the agency final response and you will receive additional appeal rights with the final response, so you do not have to act at this time.

You have the right to appeal this determination. By filing an appeal, you preserve your rights under FOIA and give the agency a chance to review and reconsider your request and the agency's decision. Your appeal must be mailed within 90 days from the date of this response, to: Director, Office of the Executive Secretariat, US Food & Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1050, Rockville, MD 20857, E-mail: FDAFOIA@fda.hhs.gov<mailto:FDAFOIA@fda.hhs.gov>. Please clearly mark both the envelope and your letter "FDA Freedom of Information Act Appeal."

If you would like to discuss our response before filing an appeal to attempt to resolve your dispute without going through the appeals process, please contact Katherine Uhl at 301-796-8975. You may also contact the FDA FOIA Public Liaison for assistance at: Office of the Executive Secretariat, US Food & Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1050, Rockville, MD 20857, E-mail: FDAFOIA@fda.hhs.gov<mailto:FDAFOIA@fda.hhs.gov>.

If you are unable to resolve your FOIA dispute through our FOIA Public Liaison, the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), the Federal FOIA Ombudsman's office, offers mediation services to help resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies. The contact information for OGIS is as follows:
Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Telephone: 202-741-5770
Toll-Free: 1-877-684-6448
E-mail: ogis@nara.gov<mailto:ogis@nara.gov>

(Note: C and O type requestors are charged a $5.75 administrative fee.)

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Sincerely,

Karen Robles
Division of Information Disclosure Policy
Office of Strategic Planning and Operational Policy
Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(916) 930-3674 ext 1114
Karen.Robles@fda.hhs.gov

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