Four Steps to Take in 2013 to Meet the FSMA

摘要

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), passed in 2011, mandates new systems for preventing produce contamination, and it requires more frequent inspections and controls for both domestic and foreign growers, shippers, importers, and distributors. In addition, it gives the FDA authority to stop or recall food products without gaining the input or approval of other agencies. Following are four areas that anyone involved in the manufacture or distribution of food should focus on this year: This year, anyone involved in the food supply chain-including growers, manufacturers, and retailers-must document in an understandable, readable, and auditable way the procedures that your farm, plant, retail store, restaurant, or the like is taking to make sure that food does not get contaminated. Retailers will be pushing growers and shippers to provide this documentation. If a supplier does not have their processes documented, a retailer will likely refuse to accept product. Possibly, the FDA will decide to give smaller businesses more time to implement this phase, but the majority of the industry needs to address this challenge now.