FMI welcomes FDA engagement on food traceability rule

ARLINGTON, Va. — FMI – The Food Industry Association welcomed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders regarding the Food Traceability Rule following a public meeting Tuesday.

In a statement, FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher said the food industry supports the FDA’s goal of strengthening product traceability during food safety events, while ensuring that implementation remains practical and cost-effective across the supply chain.

“The food industry shares FDA’s commitment to enhancing public health and improving the ability to trace products during food safety events and doing so in the most efficient way possible,” Hatcher said. “FMI and our member companies have consistently advocated for an approach to traceability that supports public health while minimizing unnecessary costs and operational burdens throughout the food supply chain.”

Hatcher said FMI supports the Trump administration’s efforts to provide additional time and flexibility for companies working to comply with the rule. She noted that extending the compliance deadline recognizes the complexity of implementing traceability requirements across a highly interconnected food system and gives companies more time to develop effective solutions.

FMI also called for additional regulatory flexibility and targeted improvements to make the rule more workable while preserving FDA’s public health objectives.

“The second need that we have shared is the importance of additional flexibility and targeted improvements that will make the rule more workable while still achieving the agency’s public health objectives in the most efficient way possible,” Hatcher said.

The association said it will continue working with regulators and industry stakeholders to advance traceability solutions that strengthen food safety and help keep food affordable for consumers.

The Food Traceability Rule, established under Section 204 of the Food Safety Modernization Act, is intended to improve the speed and accuracy of tracing certain foods through the supply chain during outbreaks and recalls.