New Food Safety Rules Unfold

摘要

IN JANUARY 2011, President Obama signed the most sweeping food safety reform in the nation's history. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) set FDA into action implementing more than 50 new rules and regulations that will impact produce from the field all the way to consumers' retail purchases. By law, FDA was mandated to provide a one-year report to track progress in developing the new rules, which it did in January. The agency characterizes its efforts as significant in the first year since FSMAwas signed into law. But, despite the progress on FSMA, FDA has postponed the release of other important rules that will directly impact the fruit and vegetable industries. According to David Gombas, senior vice president for food safety and technologyfor United Fresh Produce Association, that is cause for some disappointment, but on the other hand, with such a large change in new regulations, it is best to take the time to get it right.