On Jan. 4 , 2013 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed two unexampled food - safety rules that will help foreclose food for thought - borne unwellness . The advise rule implement the watershed , two-party FDAFood Safety Modernization Actand are available for public input for the next 120 day .
The proposed food - safety rules build on substantial pace made during the Obama administration , including the first testis - safety ruler protecting consumers fromsalmonellaand increased examination forE. coliin boeuf , as well as existing voluntary industry guidelines for solid food prophylactic , which many producers , raiser and others presently take after . They ’re part of an integrated reform effort that focuses on bar and addresses the safety of food produced domestically and abroad , with extra rules to be publish shortly .
The first purpose principle would require Lord of food sold in the United States , whether produced at a foreign- or domestic - based facility , to explicate a courtly plan for preventing their food products from causing food for thought - borne illness . The rule would also require them to have plans for compensate any problem that turn out . The FDA is proposing that many food for thought manufacturers be in compliance with the new preventive controls rules one year after the final linguistic rule are bring out in the Federal Register , but belittled and very lowly businesses would be make additional time .
The second offer rule would implement safety standards for the product and harvesting of garden truck on farms . This rule proposes science- and risk - free-base standards for thesafe production and harvest home of fruits and vegetables . The FDA is offer that larger farms be in conformity with most of the garden truck safety requirements 26 calendar month after the final rule is published in the Federal Register . little and very humble farms would have additional time to follow , and all farm would have additional meter to comply with sure requirements related to pee quality .
The dominion follow the FDA ’s outreach to the green groceries industry , consumers , other government delegacy and the international community . Since January 2011 , FDA stave have tour farm and quickness nationwide and participated in hundreds of coming together and presentation with globose regulative pardner , diligence stakeholders , consumer group , farmers , Department of State and local officials , and the inquiry biotic community . The FDA also visit farm and facilities of vary size .
“ We know one - size - fits - all rule wo n’t work , ” say Michael R. Taylor , the FDA ’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine . “ We ’ve worked to get propose regularisation that can be both effective and practical across today ’s divers food for thought system . ”
The National Farmers Union , an organization representing U.S. family farms , include modest - scurf farm , has been closely involved with Food Safety Modernization Act legislation and supports the FDA ’s proposed solid food - safety rulings , say NFU president Roger Johnson .
With one in six Americans suffering from a food - borne malady every year , Johnson says the rulings require the FDA to be more proactive in preventing disease rather than just responding to outbreaks . He expects that with a centering on high - risk areas and with freedom in place for small - scale leaf farmers , the burden to farmer cause less than a half - million dollars per annum will be minimum . In summation to delayed compliance , modest - scale husbandman will be offer technical assistance and education in food - safety provision .
The FDA plans to ordinate the input menses on the major nutrient - safety proposals as in full as possible to better enable public gossip on how the rules can well work together to create an integrated , effectual and effective food safety organisation .
extra rules to follow presently include Modern responsibilities for importers to avow that food products originate or processed oversea are as safe as domestically produced food for thought and accreditation standards to tone the quality of third - party solid food - safety audits overseas . The FDA will also propose a preventative control rule for brute food facilities , similar to the preventative controls principle propose this month for human food .
