How National Grocers Association is preparing for November’s food safety rule

This November, the Food Safety Modernization Act’s latest law will go into effect, meaning food retailers will have to make big technical, financial and operational changes.

Pursuant to court order, Section 204 of the law requires retailers, wholesalers and trading partners to maintain records of every movement of several fresh product categories from the point of origin to the point of sale to the consumer, according to a news release from the National Grocers Association. This rule will change the way every food store and distribution center in the U.S. records the delivery of shipments.

To address this requirement and other compliance issues, the National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has entered into a multiyear agreement with ReposiTrak to be its traceability and supplier compliance partner.

This partnership can help guide, educate and support the independent wholesale and retail grocery community.

“NGA’s partnership with ReposiTrak is the latest in a series of ongoing initiatives to enhance value for our members by sharing best practices in an area that’s crucial to safeguarding the hard-earned trust that retailers and manufacturers have with consumers,” Association President and CEO Greg Ferrara said in the release.

ReposiTrak will be the association’s exclusive traceability and supplier compliance provider. The association will host online thought-leadership content and share it across the website, newsletters and email blasts, as well as in a webinar series. ReposiTrak will participate in association events and offer a special rate for its services to association member companies.

“NGA’s strategic partnership and support of the ReposiTrak Traceability Network is the first step toward industry-wide adoption of our easy and inexpensive solution that will improve food safety, enable faster and more precise recalls, and even usher in the potential for food waste reduction and better transparency for consumers,” ReposiTrak Chairman and CEO Randy Fields said in the release.

The FDA has stated that the initial list of 16 categories and thousands of products covered by Section 204 is the starting point to further improve the safety of the food supply chain.

It will take time to adopt new technology and change processes to fully implement end-to-end traceability, and as members prepare for the switch, the association will provide resources.

Association members interested in the ReposiTrak program can contact Derek Hannum DHannum@repositrak.com or the association at (membership@nationalgrocers.org.