US FDA finalises FSMA rules on produce safety, food imports and auditor programmes

The US Food and Drug Administration has finalised rules for implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act, which establishes safety standards for produce farms, and makes importers responsible for verifying that imported foods meet US safety standards.

The FDA has issued a rule that sets up a programme for accreditation of auditors or third-party certification agencies to conduct food safety audits of foreign food facilities.

These final rules are expected to help produce farmers and food importers take necessary steps to prevent problems, even before they occur.

Approximately 48 million people, or one in six Americans, fall ill every year due to foodborne diseases, according to recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As a result of some high-profile outbreaks, ranging from spinach to peanut products, it has become a necessity to make continuous improvements in food safety programmes.

The new regulations released, the Produce Safety rule, the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule, and the Accredited Third-Party Certification rule, are core aspects of the food safety programme of the 2011 bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine Michael R Taylor said: "The recent multistate outbreak of salmonella in imported cucumbers that has killed four Americans, hospitalised 157 and sickened hundreds more, is exactly the kind of outbreak these rules can help prevent.

"The FDA is working with partners across the government and industry to prevent foodborne outbreaks. The rules will help better protect consumers from foodborne illness and strengthen their confidence that modern preventive practices are in place, no matter where in the world the food is produced."

The produce safety rule has set up science-based standards with regard to growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce.

Foreign supplier verification programme rules requires food importers to verify that foreign suppliers are producing food that meets US safety standards.

The FDA has finalised five of the seven major rules that implement the core aspect of FSMA.