Regulatory concerns include audits and inspections, government agencies, the pivotal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and international standards and guidances.
Audits are an important tool for verifying the safety and quality of a company's or facility's food products. Audits are conducted both internally and by certified third-party certification entities. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a private organization that benchmarks different auditing certification platforms as meeting its criteria to provide a harmonized umbrella certification.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating about 80 percent of the U.S. food supply, encompassing all foods and food ingredients introduced into or offered for sale in interstate commerce, except for meat, poultry, certain processed egg products, and catfish, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gave FDA new authority to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested, and processed. FSMA grants FDA the authority to impose mandatory recalls and has paved the way for the issuance of more than a dozen rulemakings and at least ten guidance documents. FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety builds on the work done to implement FSMA.
Guidelines for industry include draft guidance from regulatory agencies and recommended practices for industry to help ensure the production of safe food that is free from contamination.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement, and handling, to manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of finished products.
Inspections cover many areas of food and beverage production, from farms and ranches to food processing facilities to restaurants. Inspectors are trained to ensure that facilities and equipment are in proper working order and properly sanitized, maintained, and permitted.
Food safety standards vary by country and world region, and different aspects of food safety are regulated differently depending on the region. Harmonization and tightening of food safety standards around the world are important as emerging countries seek to improve quality of life by ensuring safer food for all people.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees meat, poultry, and egg products, accounting for 20 percent or less of the food supply. The majority of the food supply (80 percent or more) is regulated by FDA. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) ensures that the U.S. meat, poultry, and processed egg supply is safe and properly labeled.
Regulated food and feed products require authorization before they can be sold in the UK. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed reforms to its Regulated Products Service (RPS), for which the agency is now drafting legislation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to expand the focus of the Global Business Identifier (GBI) Test, which is examining how identifiers—unique numbers that capture information about legal business entities and their functions—can be leveraged to address a range of supply chain traceability needs.
A study of food safety inspections performed in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, and the U.S. has identified and described a common approach across countries.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now offers several resources to help state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions complete a risk factor study as part of Standard 9 (Program Assessment) of the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
FDA will hold a one-day virtual public meeting on Data and Technology in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety on April 24, 2024 to better understand how the agency can leverage data and technology to advance food safety. The same day, FDA will also open a docket to collect public comment on the event topic.
The Singapore Food Agency has proposed amendments to federal regulations that would allow the use of new ingredients in infant formula, and would also extend the use of permitted food additives.
West Virginia passed a bill known as the Truth in Food Labeling Act, restricting the language that can be used on labels for cell-based meats, plant-based meat alternatives, and other “analogue products,” such as insect-based foods. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.
NASEM has completed a study to better understand the nutritional benefits of seafood consumption versus the health hazards posed by contaminants like toxic heavy metals. The study fulfills a request from FDA, partly in a Closer to Zero effort to answer questions about mercury exposure. A webinar about the findings will be held on March 26, 2024.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule to amend its regulations on how and when FDA may determine that a food contact notification (FCN) is no longer effective.
On Demand:This discussion will center on a conversation with top regulators and advisory groups about the key issues, updates, and initiatives happening within their organizations.
On Demand: From this webinar, you will learn an invaluable understanding of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 from the architect of Rule 204, Frank Yiannas, which will demystify its nuances and progress.
On Demand: In this webinar, the speakers will discuss the RCA workshop they led at the 2023 Food Safety Summit that included a hands-on exercise and the presentation of case studies, and they will preview their planned RCA session at the 2024 Food Safety Summit.
Live: April 9, 2024 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, you will learn about the FDA’s upcoming FSMA 204 requirements and how to ensure that you are prepared for the new rule.