FDA proposes new food safety rules for imports

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed two new food safety rules aimed at preventing foodborne illness that could impact food producers exporting to the US.

The first proposed rule would require makers of food to be sold in the United States - whether produced at a foreign or domestic facility - to develop a formal plan for preventing their food products from causing foodborne illness. This rule would also require a formal plan for correcting any problems that may arise.

The FDA is proposing that many food manufacturers be in compliance with the new preventive controls rules one year after the final rules are published in the Federal Register. However, small businesses would be given additional time to comply.

Additional rules soon to follow include new responsibilities for importers to verify that food products grown or processed overseas are as safe as domestically produced food and accreditation standards to strengthen the quality of third-party food safety audits overseas. Approximately 15% of the food consumed in the US is imported, with much higher proportions in certain higher-risk categories such as produce.

The FDA will also propose a preventive controls rule for animal food facilities, similar to the preventive controls rule proposed for human food.

The proposed rules implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The rules are part of an integrated reform effort that focuses on prevention and addresses the safety of foods produced domestically and imported foods, with additional rules to be published in the near future.

“The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is a commonsense law that shifts the food safety focus from reactive to preventive,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “With the support of industry, consumer groups and the bipartisan leadership in Congress, we are establishing a science-based, flexible system to better prevent foodborne illness and protect American families.”

The second rule relates to the production and harvesting of produce on farms in the US. The FDA is encouraging comment on and review of the proposed rules; however, this is only open to American citizens.

More information on the proposed rules is available via the FDA website: www.fda.gov.