Latest News From FSMA

FDA sets dates for hearings on proposed changes to ag water rules
FDA sets dates for hearings on proposed changes to ag water rules

The FDA will be holding two virtual public meetings to discuss the recently released proposed rule for agricultural water.

Arizona and California LGMA programs meet and exceed FDA’s proposed water rule
Arizona and California LGMA programs meet and exceed FDA’s proposed water rule

On December 2, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the release of a proposed revision to Subpart E (Agricultural Water) of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). 

FDA proposes changes to agricultural water requirements in the produce safety rule
FDA proposes changes to agricultural water requirements in the produce safety rule

Responding to feedback from growers who said the agency’s previous guidance was too complicated and difficult to implement, the FDA has changed its regulatory approach to agricultural water requirements.

FDA selects winners for low- or no-cost food traceability challenge
FDA selects winners for low- or no-cost food traceability challenge

The Food and Drug Administration has announced the 12 winners of the FDA New Era of Smarter Food Safety Low- or No-Cost Tech-Enabled Traceability Challenge. 

Voluntary Qualified Importer Program portal will close May 31
Voluntary Qualified Importer Program portal will close May 31

The Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) application portal for fiscal year (FY) 2022 benefits will close on May 31, 2021. The portal opened on January 1, 2021. 

NJ’s on-farm produce safety website to help with inspections
NJ’s on-farm produce safety website to help with inspections

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s new produce safety website has launched to help professionals abide by the Food Safety Modernization Act, including the Produce Safety Rule.

PMA Comments on FSMA Traceability Rule
PMA Comments on FSMA Traceability Rule

The Produce Marketing Association submitted comments on the proposed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule ‘Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods’.

Tom Karst
Glass half full and half empty: added traceability regulations

How do you quantify the advantages and disadvantages of increased traceability regulations for fresh produce (and other food)?

Happy birthday, FSMA!
Happy birthday, FSMA!

Ten years ago, on Jan. 4, 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act became law.

FDA extends comment period for food traceability rule
FDA extends comment period for food traceability rule

The Food and Drug Administration is extending the public comment period for the Food Safety Modernization Act’s traceability rule.

FDA offers help with following the Food Traceability proposed rule
FDA offers help with following the Food Traceability proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration is offering several resources to help people understand and follow a proposed rule that requires more traceability recordkeeping for certain produce.

FDA pilot program tests third-party audit alignment with FSMA
FDA pilot program tests third-party audit alignment with FSMA

The Food and Drug Administration is launching a voluntary pilot program to evaluate whether services by third-party food safety auditors align with Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.

Trevor Suslow returns to UC-Davis, continues as a PMA resource
Trevor Suslow returns to UC-Davis, continues as a PMA resource

Trevor Suslow, who joined the Produce Marketing Association in mid-2018 as vice president of produce safety, is stepping down from full-time duties at the association.

100 days in, FDA recaps ‘New Era’ of food safety moves
100 days in, FDA recaps ‘New Era’ of food safety moves

The Food and Drug Administration is discussing New Era of Smarter Food Safety developments in a web seminar as the program hits the 100-day mark.

Ball’s Food offers training for food safety
Ball’s Food offers training for food safety

One hundred employees of Ball’s Food Stores, Kansas City, Kan., have been certified by the American National Standards Institute and the Conference for Food Protection.

“Food traceability list” is high-risk foods by another name
“Food traceability list” is high-risk foods by another name

The Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rule is called “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.”

Sprout Safety Alliance training program set
Sprout Safety Alliance training program set

The Sprout Safety Alliance has scheduled its next training course for growers.

FDA injunction forces sprout grower to stop production
FDA injunction forces sprout grower to stop production

Fortune Food Product Inc., a Chicago sprout grower and maker of soy products, has agreed to shut down after the Food and Drug Administration issued its first injunction under the Produce Safety Rule.

FDA sets FY 2021 FSMA fees for import, third-party audits
FDA sets FY 2021 FSMA fees for import, third-party audits

The Food and Drug Administration has set fiscal year 2021 fees for inspection relating to imports and third-party audits under the Food Safety Modernization Act.

New Era of Smarter Food Safety is upon us
New Era of Smarter Food Safety is upon us

The Food and Drug Administration's New Era of Smarter Food Safety and corresponding “blueprint” that guides the process are not a quick fix to outbreaks that led regulators to seek new answers.

FDA’s ‘New Era’ blueprint to guide next decade of food safety
FDA’s ‘New Era’ blueprint to guide next decade of food safety

As expected, the Food and Drug Administration’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety leans heavily on technology, particularly in traceability and outbreak responses.

FDA inspection restart relies on local situations
FDA inspection restart relies on local situations

The Food and Drug Administration has set a goal of restarting on-site inspection of FDA-regulated facilities the week of July 20.

FDA extends comment period for adulteration rule
FDA extends comment period for adulteration rule

The Food and Drug Administration is extending the comment period for the third installment of the draft guidance on Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration.

FDA adds flexibility to Produce Safety Rule exemptions
FDA adds flexibility to Produce Safety Rule exemptions

The Food and Drug Administration is giving smaller farms flexibility on remaining exempt from the Produce Safety Rule even if they shift sales to new buyers.

FDA extends VQIP program application period for importers
FDA extends VQIP program application period for importers

The Food and Drug Administration is extending the application period for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program.

California LGMA appoints Willette Crawford as compliance officer
California LGMA appoints Willette Crawford as compliance officer

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, Sacramento, has appointed Willette Crawford to compliance officer.

Seminar addresses remote food safety audits in a pandemic
Seminar addresses remote food safety audits in a pandemic

With travel bans due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, on-site audits have been disrupted, and the United Fresh Produce Association has a web seminar to answer importers’ questions.

NSF International rolls out remote food safety training technology
NSF International rolls out remote food safety training technology

As the COVID-19 pandemic separates inspectors from on-site duties, NSF International has demonstrated the ability to conduct food safety audits using smartglass technology.

FDA again extends lab accreditation comment period
FDA again extends lab accreditation comment period

The Food and Drug Administration is extending the comment period for establishing a laboratory accreditation program for testing food.

FDA continues import inspections remotely
FDA continues import inspections remotely

The Food and Drug Administration is asking importers to send records required by the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Foreign Supplier Verification Programs electronically.

FDA PSA tells consumers food is safe during pandemic
FDA PSA tells consumers food is safe during pandemic

The Food and Drug Administration’s Frank Yiannas has a message for consumers: food is available and it is safe.

Registrar acquires online food safety training company
Registrar acquires online food safety training company

Registrar Corp., Hampton, Va., has acquired Vinca LLC, which provides online training for food safety management systems.

FDA stops enforcing onsite audits and testing of imported food
FDA stops enforcing onsite audits and testing of imported food

The Food and Drug Administration has suspended enforcement of verifying Food Safety Modernization Act audit requirements for importers and food facilities because of the coronavirus COVID-19 spread.

FDA to answer food safety questions concerning COVID-19
FDA to answer food safety questions concerning COVID-19

The Food and Drug Administration will answer questions in a March 18 teleconference on how the coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting food safety and food supplies.

FDA expands comment period for lab accreditation program
FDA expands comment period for lab accreditation program

The Food and Drug Administration has extended the comment period for the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Laboratory Accreditation Program proposed rule.

Registrar updates FDA food safety compliance monitor
Registrar updates FDA food safety compliance monitor

Registrar Corp. has upgraded it FDA Compliance Monitor with risk evaluation tools.

FDA approves Costco for verified importer program
FDA approves Costco for verified importer program

Costco Wholesale Corp., Issaquah, Wash., is the first participant approved by the Food and Drug Administration for its Voluntary Qualified Importer Program.

Yiannas to discuss FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety at GS1 show
Yiannas to discuss FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety at GS1 show

Frank Yiannas, the Food and Drug Administration’s deputy commissioner for food policy and response and the former food safety expert at Walmart, is delivering the opening speech at the GS1 Connect 2020.

FDA releases Intentional Adulteration Rule installment
FDA releases Intentional Adulteration Rule installment

The Food and Drug Administration has released the third and final installment of the Intentional Adulteration Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Healthy Trailer verifies washout system reduces microbials
Healthy Trailer verifies washout system reduces microbials

Healthy Trailer LLC has passed the first phase of a third-party verification process of its patent-pending trailer cleaning process.

FDA releases Food Safety Dashboard for FSMA data
FDA releases Food Safety Dashboard for FSMA data

The Food and Drug Administration has released a Food Safety Dashboard to help track Food Safety and Modernization Act rules and measure their progress.

FDA approves company for 3rd-party certification program
FDA approves company for 3rd-party certification program

The Food and Drug Administration has added Global Standards S.C. as an approved certifier for companies seeking Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.

FDA, state ag departments sign produce safety plan
FDA, state ag departments sign produce safety plan

The Food and Drug Administration has signed an agreement that will help state departments of agriculture as they take on roles in ensuring the Produce Safety Rule is implemented.

California seeks small grower information for FSMA compliance
California seeks small grower information for FSMA compliance

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is alerting 8,000 growers designated as “small/very small” by the FSMA of their obligations to follow the law, and when those obligations start.

United Fresh to update harmonized GAP standard
United Fresh to update harmonized GAP standard

The United Fresh Produce Association plans to update the Good Agricultural Practices Harmonized Standard, 10 years after its inception.

United Fresh training set for FSMA import rules
United Fresh training set for FSMA import rules

The United Fresh Produce Association is sponsoring a training session to educate produce importers on requirements in the Food Safety Modernization Act.

DeLauro again pushes for single food safety agency
DeLauro again pushes for single food safety agency

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, an outspoke critic of food industries in response to outbreaks, is again calling for a single federal food safety agency.

FDA meeting focuses on FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule
FDA meeting focuses on FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule

The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a public meeting on the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Intentional Adulteration Rule.

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FSMA course in Colorado focuses on preventive control rule

Produce industry associations are sponsoring a three-day Food Safety Modernization Act training class in Delta, Colo.

Registrar Corp. upgrades FDA compliance tool
Registrar Corp. upgrades FDA compliance tool

Registrar Corp. has upgraded its FDA Compliance Monitor, a tool to ensure companies are following Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.