Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the final version of the Food Defense Rule. This is the seventh and final food safety rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The new Food Defense Rule requires both domestic and foreign food companies to prepare and maintain a written food defense plan. Under the plan, food facilities will need to:
- Identify potential vulnerabilities to intentional contamination;
- Identify and implement strategies to address the vulnerabilities;
- Establish monitoring procedures and corrective actions;
- Implement verification procedures;
- Ensure employees receive proper food defense training; and
- Retain the written food defense plan and additional records for inspection by the FDA.
An advance copy of the new rule, which will be officially published May 27, 2016, is here.
The following are summaries with reference links to the other new rules:
- CGMP and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food
- CGMP and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Animal Food
- Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP)
- Accredited Third-Party Certification
- Produce Safety
- Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food
We are advising clients on all of the new FSMA requirements and scheduling private educational seminars and Q&A sessions. If you have questions about the new FSMA regulations or other food regulations, please contact Chris Predko (616.752.2190 or cpredko@wnj.com).
