The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law on January 4, 2011, requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undertake sweeping regulatory action to strengthen the safety of the nation’s food supply. Many of the items on FDA’s “to do” list require significant and swift action. Over the next two years, FDA must engage in a number of rulemakings and issue several guidance documents to implement the FSMA.

FDA must take certain actions in 2011, including:

Issue guidelines regarding new dietary ingredients in dietary supplements
Promulgate facility registration suspension guidelines

Several of FDA’s action items must be completed by January 4, 2012, including:

Issue notice of proposed rulemaking regarding safe fruit and vegetable harvest and processing
Designate high-risk foods requiring additional recordkeeping
Promulgate rules establishing the foreign supplier verification program for importers
Develop and publish a list of acceptable customer notification methods that grocery stores may use to post recall information

Other action items affecting a large portion of the food industry have a July 4, 2012 deadline:

Promulgate regulations establishing science-based minimum standards for hazard analyses and preventive controls
Promulgate rules regarding the sanitary transportation of food

Industry stakeholders should determine how the new law affects them and prepare to participate in the notice and comment process. For a copy of the Kelley Drye client advisory regarding the FSMA, please click here. For a timeline of all FDA actions required under the FSMA, please click here.

New Food Safety Law Sets the Stage for Industry Participation in Numerous Rulemakings