FOOD AND HEALTH ESSENTIALS

US FDA extends compliance dates for certain produce requirements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed extending mandatory dates for compliance with certain provisions of its rules for produce intended for human consumption.

In a proposed rule published in mid-September, the FDA is seeking comments on its plans to extend the dates for compliance with the agriculture water provisions applicable to certain produce products in accordance with the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act. The FDA says that is proposing the extend the compliance dates “to address questions about the practical implementation of compliance…and to consider how we might further reduce the regulatory burden or increase flexibility while continuing to achieve our regulatory objectives.”

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted through the U.S. Federal eRulemaking Portal  (cite Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0921).

The complete text of the FDA’s proposed rule on extending compliance dates for certain produce products is available here.