On-Farm Food Safety Section

Keep up with the latest news on this dynamic topic that impacts growers on multiple levels. Developing a farm food safety plan is a good idea for all growers, and may be required as part of food safety audits if you sell to certain buyers.

View NJAES On-Farm Food Safety Essentials

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Instructions on How to Comment on the Proposed FSMA Rule

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the most sweeping reform of food safety laws in over 70 years. Signed January 4, 2011 by President Obama, FSMA aims to create an integrated food safety system and improve the quality of food products to the public by reducing foodborne illness.

On January 4, 2013, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued two major proposed FSMA rules:
• The proposed rule to establish standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption (the produce safety proposed rule); and
• The current good manufacturing practice and hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls for human food (the preventive controls proposed rule).

In the Federal Register of January 16, 2013 (78 FR 3503 and 78 FR 3646), FDA announced the establishment of two dockets so that the public can review the produce safety proposed rule and the preventive controls proposed rule and submit comments to the Agency. In the Federal Register of August 8, 2013, the Agency extended the comment period for an additional 60 days until November 15, 2013. This is the second and final extension of the comment period for these two rules.

There are two ways to comment:

Comment electronically at:
Preventive Controls Rule

Produce Rule 

Written comments may be faxed to the FDA at 301-827-6870 or you may mail them to:
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

The Food Safety Modernization Act: What Does it Mean for Your Farm Operation?

FSMA Informational Meeting

Food Safety Modernization ActOctober 22, 2013
Rutgers EcoComplex
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Free of Charge
Sponsored by:  New Jersey Department of Agriculture and New Jersey Farm Burea

For more details click the highlighted link.

I Have A Farm – Does the Proposed Preventive Controls Rule Affect Me?

The FDA published a new guidance document today focusing on the Preventive Controls portion of the Food Safety Modernization Act.  The document can be read at the FDA FSMA website.

 

How Will FSMA Affect Your Business?

NOTE – The comment period for the Produce Rule has been extended for the final time, comments are due to the FDA by November 15, 2013.  Comments can be made here.

United Fresh held a webinar featuring David Gombus on Tuesday August 13, 2013 focusing on what we know about the Food Safety Modernization Act and how it may affect businesses. The webinar was recorded and is available online at United Fresh.
[Read more…]

FDA Releases FSMA Factsheets for Farmers

FDA is expanding its outreach to small- and medium-size growers to address questions that have arisen since the proposed rule was issued in January 2013. According to Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, FDA expects and welcomes questions that arise during the rulemaking process. In a new interview, he emphasizes that FDA is committed to developing, with input, a final rule that prevents illnesses but that also is practical and adaptable to a wide diversity of growing conditions and practices.

Resources available on the newly updated FDA FSMA site are: [Read more…]

FSMA Comment Period Ends September 16th

The comment period for both the Proposed Produce Rule and the Proposed Preventive Controls Rule ends on September 16th.  Both of these rules have the potential to impact many farms across NJ.  Your comments are important and can be made online for both the Produce Rule and the Preventive Controls Rule.  (Click on the highlighted rule name to access the comment page.)

Here are a few proposed regulations will be of interest to growers:
Proposed Produce Safety Rule
– How are annual farm sales calculated?
– How often will ag water need to be tested?
– What is the acceptable timing for animal based compost, and why is it not the same as the NOP standards? [Read more…]