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
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
