FDA Releases FSMA Final Rules on Produce Safety, Foreign Supplier Verification Programs and Accredited Third-Party Certification

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed three final rules
under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) on produce safety,
foreign supplier verification programs (FSVPs) and accredited
third-party certification, all slated for publication in the November
27, 2015, edition of the Federal Register.

The agency will also hold a webinar series to discuss the new rules,
which are intended to “establish enforceable safety standards for the
production and harvesting of produce on farms and make importers
accountable for the safety of the food they bring into the U.S.”

The produce safety rule addresses, among other things, (i) the quality
and testing of agricultural water, (ii) biological soil amendments such
as raw manure and stabilized compost, (iii) food safety requirements
for sprouts, (iv) the management of domesticated and wild animals,
(v) health, hygiene and worker training, and (vi) sanitation standards
for equipment, tools and buildings. FDA also describes hazard analysis
and supplier verification requirements for importers, as well as the
accreditation procedures for third-party auditors. Effective 60 days after
publication in the Federal Register, the rules establish final compliance
dates ranging from one to three years depending on business size, type
and other factors.

Issue 584