Dive Brief:
- The FDA released the next three Food Safety Modernization Act rules Friday morning: the produce safety rule, the foreign supplier verification programs (FSVP) rule, and the accredited third-party certification rule. The agency published the preventive controls rules for human and animal food back in September.
- The rules are designed to aid produce farmers and food importers in food safety prevention efforts, the consistent theme in updating food safety standards.
- With these finalized rules, that means the FDA only has two more to go — sanitary transportation and intentional adulteration, expected this spring.
Dive Insight:
According to USDA estimates, imported food made up approximately 19% of the food supply in the U.S. This includes 52% of fresh fruit and 22% of vegetables.
The FSVP rule mandates food importers check that foreign suppliers are meeting U.S. safety standards.
The accredited third-party certification rule will instill a program to create food safety audits and make sure food facilities and food made there are up to FDA standards.
FSMA implementation is leaving companies with much to focus on to reach compliance, and comes at a time when food safety is at the forefront of consumers' minds following high-profile recalls.