The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released for public comment two proposed rules to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act. The proposed rules are designed to help prevent foodborne illnesses.

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

January 14, 2013

1 Min Read
FDA Issues Proposed Rules for Food Safety Modernization Act

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released for public comment two proposed rules to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act. The proposed rules are designed to help prevent foodborne illnesses. The proposed rule on Preventive Controls for Human Food sets safety requirements for facilities that process, package or store food for people. Human food facilities would have to implement “preventive controls” with a written plan that:

  • Evaluates hazards that are reasonably likely to occur in food, such as pathogens (disease-causing organisms) and allergens.

  • Specifies the steps that will be put in place to minimize or prevent those hazards.

  • Specifies how these controls will be monitored.

  • Maintains routine records of the monitoring.

  • Specifies what actions will be taken to correct problems that arise.

The Standards for Produce Safety proposed rule implements the food-safety law requirements that science-based standards be set for the production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables. The proposed rule would cover all fruits and vegetables except those rarely consumed raw, produced for personal consumption, or destined for commercial processing that will reduce microorganisms of public health concern. The standards include requirements addressing major areas specific to agriculture that can be the conduit for contaminates:

  • Irrigation and other agricultural water;

  • Farm worker hygiene;

  • Manure and other additions to the soil;

  • Intrusion of animals in the growing fields, and

  • Sanitation conditions affecting buildings, equipment and tools.

 The rules are open for public comment period for 120 days.

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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