The first FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A conference call, coordinated by the Produce Safety Alliance, was held yesterday.  This conference call focused on exemptions to the proposed rule.  Here are the highlights of yesterday’s conference call:

1. How are average annual sales for a farm calculated?
2. Farm Facility (Packinghouse) Registration, are farms exempt?
3. At what point does the FDA Preventative Controls rule apply to a farm?
4. Are there any exemptions to the labeling of product to be sold? [Read more…]

The Produce Safety Alliance, in collaboration with the FDA, will be hosting a series of Q & A teleconferences to discuss specific sections of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Proposed Produce Safety Rule. See the attachment for teleconference dates and times on the following topics:

• Understanding Exemptions
• Agricultural Water
• Soil Amendments
• Domestic and Wild Animals
• Growing, Harvesting, Packing & Holding Activities
• Equipment, Tools, Buildings, & Sanitation
• Health, Hygiene, and Worker Training
• Recordkeeping, Compliance, & Enforcement

Remember comments or questions regarding issues the FDA should clarify or address in the final rule or in companion guidance document must be submitted before May 16, 2013. See attachment for submission delivery options.

In this update we summarize of some of the material most recently presented by the Food and Drug Administration on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
FSMA Proposed – Sec. 105 Rule

Also find a compliance decision tree for US growers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, mushrooms, herbs, or sprouts. This rule will impact most growers in New Jersey. If you have questions do not hesitate to contact Meredith Melendez or myself.

Webinar Date: February 7, 2013 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

While the USDA has no formal role in the development or implementation of the proposed rules for the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, the agency’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Fruit and Vegetable Program is hosting the webinar as a service to the produce industry.

Dr. Jim Gorny, Senior Advisor, Produce Safety, for FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition will deliver a presentation on two groundbreaking FDA proposed rules under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA, with an emphasis on the proposed Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption. The proposed rules published in the Federal Register on Jan. 16, 2013 provide for a 120 day comment period. [Read more…]

Visit the 2013 Ag Convention & Trade Show for the next Food Safety & Audit Training on February 7th, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost included in the convention fees. Topics covered: Food Safety Modernization Act Proposed Rules, Harmonized Food Safety Standards, How to develop a food safety plan for your operation and risk assessment.

NOFA is sponsoring two food safety trainings: February 11th and February 19th. Both classes will be held at the RCE Mercer County office, 930 Spruce St., Trenton, NJ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. $25 for NOFA members/$30 for non-members. Questions? call 908-371-1111 x4 and visit: www.nofanj.org/programs_foodsafety.htm to register for the classes.

Blueberry Food Safety Training on February 20th at the Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research and Extension, 125A Lake Oswego Rd., Chatsworth, NJ. 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; $25 includes lunch. To register call 609-726-1590

Obtain up-to-date information at the Food Safety & Harmonized Audit Training on March 1st at the RCE Cumberland County office, 291 Morton Avenue, Rosenhayn. $25 includes lunch and materials; 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. To register call 856-451-2800 x1

The Food and Drug Administration released their proposed Standards for “Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” today. This is a 547 page document. There is a 7 page executive summary at the beginning which will serve most people. The comment period for the proposed rules end May 16, 2013.

We will be putting out more information for growers over the next couple weeks as there is time to digest the document. Growers should be encouraged to at least review the summary since this rule will impact most growers in New Jersey. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Meredith Melendez or myself.

Website Announcement
Proposed Rule under FSMA for Produce: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption

Document
Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption