Spudman

FDA commissioner announces extension of FSMA comment period

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced the agency’s intention to extend the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) comment period by 120 days. Hamburg made the remarks during a Senate Appropriation Committee hearing. The comment period was originally set to end May 16. A group of more than 80 produce industry organizations sent a letter April 11 to Hamburg requesting an extension of the comment period on the preventive controls and produce safety rules of FSMA by…  » Read more

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Produce industry groups seek FSMA comment period extension

A group of 89 international, national, state and regional fresh fruit and vegetable groups has requested an extension of the May 16 deadline on the comment period for the proposed Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The request was made in an April 11 letter sent to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. The letter noted, “it would be impossible for any interested party to meaningfully comment on these two…  » Read more

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United, California group partner on FSMA webinar

United Fresh and the California Grocers Association Education Foundation will present a webinar on March 20 outlining the potential impact of the proposed Produce Safety Rule on retailers’ procurement and store operations as well as fresh produce suppliers. United’s David Gombas, senior vice president of food safety and technology, and Jeff Oberman, vice president of trade relations, will lead the webinar. “Retailers will definitely feel the effects of the produce rule, especially if the small…  » Read more

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Industry groups will comment on trace report

The Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), designed to help the produce industry maximize the effectiveness of current traceback procedures, is currently developing a response to the Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFT) 10 recommendations released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the document entitled “Pilot Projects for Improving Product Tracing along the Food Supply System Final Report.” PTI, with the coordination of its four administering organizations (Canadian Produce Marketing Association, GS1 US, Produce Marketing Association…  » Read more

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FDA will step up inspection of cantaloupe packinghouses

FDA on Monday, Feb. 25 announced its intention to begin inspections of cantaloupe packinghouses during the 2013 growing season, with a special focus on preventing listeria outbreaks. “As we move forward over the next few years with implementation of the produce safety provisions of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), it is essential that the cantaloupe industry and the produce industry in general, observe best practices already recognized by FDA and the industry as…  » Read more

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Extension granted for FSMA comment deadline

FDA has approved a request made by United Fresh to extend the comment period for the information collection provisions of two proposed rules related to the Food Safety Modernization Act. The deadline, which was Feb. 15, was extended to May 16. The information collection provisions are requested and subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The extended deadline matches the May 16 deadline for submitting…  » Read more

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United requests extension of time for FSMA comments

United Fresh has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget to extend the comment period on certain provisions in the proposed produce and preventive controls rules. Several provisions relating to information collection currently face a comment deadline of Feb. 16, which United and the Grocery Manufacturers Association are requesting be extended to May 16. The extension is necessary to provide sufficient time for the industry to examine and respond to the complex…  » Read more

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Food Safety: Cold chain key to safety, quality

Dr. John Ryan followed shipments of produce to Honolulu in November. And he found that temperatures can take a roller coaster ride. Through Intelleflex temperature monitoring tags and RFID (radio frequency identification) readers, data was collected and read at each waypoint for analysis by shippers, customers and handlers on boxes and pallets of fruits and vegetables. GPS tracking allowed data and location to be transmitted via satellite. Produce tracking began at northern San Diego produce…  » Read more

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Update: FDA not sure when food facility registration will open

A spokesperson for the FDA says the agency doesn't know yet when it will begin accepting food facility registrations as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Under FSMA, all domestic and foreign facilities manufacturing, processing, packing or holding food for human or animal consumption in the U.S. are mandated to register with FDA between now and Dec. 31. In the past, registration was voluntary. Registration was supposed to open Oct. 1, but it…  » Read more

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Set to open today, FDA’s mandatory registration for food facilities not ready yet

While today marks the start of the three-month window for food facilities to meet mandatory registration requirements with the FDA, the government has announced that the website isn’t ready. Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), all domestic and foreign facilities manufacturing, processing, packing or holding food for human or animal consumption in the U.S. are mandated to register with FDA between now and Dec. 31. In the past, registration was voluntary. It’s not clear…  » Read more

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