Table of Contents
EWING, NJ — Eight major food industry organizations have come together to form the "Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration" in an effort to raise awareness and streamline compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Food Traceability Rule. The rule, which stems from Section 204(d) of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requires a robust tracking system for high-risk foods like fresh produce, deli salads, and certain seafood products.
Published in November 2022, FSMA Rule 204 poses significant challenges for the food industry, with stringent recordkeeping and data management requirements. The newly formed collaboration includes FMI — The Food Industry Association, as well as the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), GS1 US, the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). Their goal is to simplify the path to compliance by sharing resources, offering education, and fostering collaboration between industry and government stakeholders.
"Food safety is the most important issue for the food industry, and FSMA Rule 204 is the most significant regulation we’ve faced," FMI president and CEO Leslie Sarasin said. "This collaboration underscores our commitment to ensuring the food supply chain has the tools needed for compliance."
As the compliance deadline approaches, the collaboration will focus on helping businesses adopt advanced traceability technologies, ensuring the safety and integrity of the U.S. food supply chain.
