Public Meetings on FDA's Draft Produce Safety Rule Guidance

Dear New Mexico Produce Growers,

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold four one-day public meetings to discuss the recently published draft guidance created to help farmers meet the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule. The meetings will be held in Portland, OR (11/27/18); Anaheim, CA (11/29/18); Albany, NY (12/11/18); and Atlanta, GA (12/13/18). FDA will also broadcast these meetings by webinar online. Registration is required to attend in person or online. The registration link to all four meeting locations, Public Meetings.

There is also an open comment period from November 1, 2018 to April 22, 2019 to send written comments to the FDA about this Guidance. The link to submit electronic comments is Electronic Comments. Search for Docket No. FDA-2018-D-3631. The draft guidance that will be discussed is entitled "Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption: Draft Guidance for Industry." Click this link for a copy. It is a compliance and implementation guide that gives information and examples to demonstrate how farmers can meet the rule's requirements in various ways. Email Bob Silver at New Mexico State University or call at 575-646-7038 for any questions.

FDA Releases Draft Guidance for Intentional Adulteration Rule

June 19, 2018

Today, the FDA released the first of three installments of a draft guidance document designed to support compliance with the Intentional Adulteration (IA) Rule under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The remaining two installments are expected to come out later this year.

The first compliance date for the largest facilities arrives in July 2019.

This first part of the draft guidance includes chapters on:

• The components of the food defense plan;

• How to conduct vulnerability assessments using the key activity type method;

• How to identify and implement mitigation strategies; and

Food defense monitoring requirements. To further assist and engage stakeholders, FDA will announce plans to hold a public meeting on the draft guidance when the second installment is released later this year. All three parts will be available for public comment upon release.