FDA publishes new FAQs and additional tools for the Food Traceability Rule: FDA posted new frequently asked questions and additional tools to provide industry with more information about the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Food Traceability Rule. The Food Traceability Rule is designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and deaths. Foods subject to the final rule requirements appear on the Food Traceability List (FTL). Read more here. 

FDA Issues Guidance for Qualified Exempt Farms that Utilized Temporary Flexibilities During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

FDA fact sheet on requirements for agricultural water used for harvest and post-harvest activities under the PSR.

As a part of FSMA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule on food traceability designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or deaths. Read the final rule and see the Food Traceability List.

FDA released a paper version of its Agricultural Water Assessment Builder, to complement the online version, which was developed to help farms understand the proposed requirements in the Agricultural Water Proposed Rule.

FDA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to extend the compliance dates for the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions as outlined in the recent 2021 agricultural water proposed rule, proposing to continue enforcement discretion for the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements of the Produce Safety regulation until the following dates:

• January 26, 2025, for very small businesses;
• January 26, 2024, for small businesses; and
• January 26, 2023, for all other businesses.

FDA released its Agricultural Water Assessment Builder to help farms understand the proposed Agricultural Water Rule. Access the tool here.

FDA proposed amending the agricultural water provisions of the Produce Safety Rule. Comments period closes on April 5, 2022. View all comments here.

Comment period closes for FDA’s proposed rule on traceability. View all submitted comments here.

Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) opened registration for Colorado produce farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule and inspected by CDA

FDA opens for comment its proposed rule on traceability. The food traceability list identifies the foods for which the additional traceability records described in the proposed rule would be required. 

FDA opens for comment its Rarely Consumed Raw produce list. Data, information, and comments may be submitted until Nov 9

FDA announces new protocol for developing and registering preharvest ag water treatments

FDA provides flexibility to farms regarding eligibility for the qualified exemption under the Produce Safety Rule

FDA released its report “Factors Potentially Contributing to the Contamination of Romaine Lettuce Implicated in the Three Outbreaks of E. coli 0157:H7 during the Fall of 2019”

FDA released the Spanish language version of the Produce Safety Rule

FDA announced routine inspections of small farms may begin as early as January 2020

United Fresh released guidelines on recommended food safety practices intended to minimize the microbiological hazards associated with fresh and fresh-cut tomato products

FDA released a proposal on food safety guidelines for sprout  seeds and will be taking public comments until late August

FDA released updated Frequently Asked Questions on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to include additional questions and answers related to the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Produce Safety Rule)

FDA published Spanish translations of the Produce Safety Rule draft guidance “At-A-Glance” overviews

See United Fresh’s Romaine Resources and a Q&A on voluntary origin/harvest date labeling for romaine products

FDA has released  final guidance regarding the agency’s mandatory recall authority under FSMA

FDA published its environmental assessment for the multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, AZ, in a statement by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb

FDA released: 1) draft guidance on Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption; and 2) draft guidance entitled “Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Produce”

FDA released guidance to help growers determine if a facility falls under the definition of a Qualified Facility for human food or for animal food

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition released an updated FSMA Flowchart and a new  FSMA Diagrama de flujo Español

FDA updated resources for suppliers and facilities with its Data Dashboard, making available enforcement, compliance and recall information

FDA released inflation-adjusted values for the most recent 3 years to support calculations for Produce Safety and other rules under FSMA

The Produce Safety Alliance held a Water Summit on Feb 26-28, watch the Summit via recorded videos

New Produce Safety Rule landing page at FDA

FDA will not enforce certain provisions in four FSMA regulations –see fact sheet

FDA releases new FSMA-related surveillance sampling for fresh produce

FDA releases Guidance for Industry on Current Good Manufacturing Practice Requirements for Food for Animals

New article on mapping multi-state foodborne disease outbreaks

FDA offering one-hour training module on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food Rule (“Sanitary Transportation Rule”)

Fact sheet on “Rarely Consumed Raw” Produce

FDA proposes extending water compliance dates

FDA Commissioner Addresses State Agriculture Commissioners; Announces New Steps to Enhance Collaboration with States and Ensure Farmers Are Prepared for FSMA

Equivalent Testing Methodologies for Agricultural Water

FDA Releases 6th Chapter of Draft Guidance for the PC-Human Food Rule

FDA Releases Food Safety Plan Builder