Are you in the food industry and want your voice to be heard in regards to the Food Safety Modernization Act? Now’s your time to speak up!!! The proposed rule on preventative controls is expected this fall.
Earlier this year, President Obama signed into law the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which requires food manufacturers to take certain actions, including evaluating the hazards that could affect food manufactured, processed, packed or held by a facility and to identify and implement preventative controls to significantly minimize or prevent occurrence of such hazards. In accordance with the FSMA, the FDA is now tasked with creating specific guidance on preventative control best practices. In order to represent the diverse needs and challenges of the industry, the FDA is seeking the public’s comments that will inform the development of guidance on hazard identification and control measures associated with specific types of food for specific methods of manufacturing. They are seeking general comments in regards to:
- Conducting a hazard analysis to determine the hazards associated with specific human/animal food
- Implementing process controls to prevent, eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels the occurrence of any hazards that reasonably likely to occur
- Validating food/feed safety controls
- Implementing sanitation controls
- Implementing supplier controls
- Allergen control
- Environmental monitoring for Salmonella and for Listeria
- Preventative control approaches and practices that are practical for small and very small businesses to implement?
Comments may be submitted either electronically or in writing until August 22, 2011. Submit electronic comments at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2011-N-0238-00011.
Submit written comments to:
The Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
