The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has selected James “Jim” Jones to serve as the first deputy commissioner for Human Foods beginning September 24.
The new executive position is designed to advance priorities for a proposed unified Human Foods Program (HFP), which will oversee food safety, chemical safety and innovative food products, including those from new agricultural technologies.
Jim JonesCourtesy of The U.S. National Archives
At the EPA, he was a principal architect of the 2016 overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the first update of that statute in more than 40 years. He was also responsible for decision-making related to the regulation of pesticides and commercial chemicals. He also led several national sustainability programs, including the EPA’s Environmental Preferable Purchasing Program and the Presidential Green Chemistry Awards Challenge. The FDA noted he is a seasoned leader whose experience managing change initiatives within the federal government will be invaluable as we continue to build a unified HFP.
“I’m delighted to welcome Jim to the FDA,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “His impressive career, extensive leadership experience, and passionate vision for the future of the Human Foods Program make him an ideal selection for this pivotal position. Our proposed reorganization is the largest undertaking of its kind in recent history for our agency.
"I’m confident that under Jim’s leadership, we will build a stronger organization that will be integrated with other components of the FDA and focused on keeping the foods we regulate safe and nutritious, while ensuring the agency remains on the cutting edge of the latest advancements in food science and nutrition," Califf continued. "I’m looking forward to working with him when he joins us next month.”
In the role of deputy commissioner for HFP, Jones will report directly to the FDA commissioner. He will exercise decision-making authority over all HFP entities when the reorganization is in effect, including related Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) activities. He will provide executive leadership over the entire program as well as over resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy, policy, and major response activities involving human foods. The leadership for Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and Office of Food Policy and Response will report to Jones until the proposed HFP reorganization is implemented.
"I had the pleasure of serving on the expert panel that provided operational recommendations for the FDA’s foods-related activities, and I now look forward to helping the agency realize its vision for the proposed Human Foods Program, including carrying out important nutrition initiatives to improve the health of our country,” said Jones.
“As a former pesticide regulator, I have a deep understanding of the unique needs of government programs involved in upholding safety of the U.S. food supply, as well as the important role that the agriculture community and state partners play in this paradigm," he continued. "I am honored to serve the FDA and the country in this new capacity.”
The deputy commissioner for Human Foods will be supported by an executive leadership team and work closely with other FDA executives to ensure priorities are appropriately coordinated and advanced. He will work closely with the ORA on human foods-related activities as well as the Center for Veterinary Medicine activities that have a nexus to human foods.
