WASHINGTON—Based on feedback receiving during public meetings and thousands of comments submitted to the agency, FDA on Friday announced a number of revisions to proposed rules that are aimed to prevent foodborne illness under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
The updated proposals affect produce safety, preventative controls for animal and human food, and the foreign supplier verification program. Some of the regulations will affect the dietary supplement industry to various degrees.
“The FDA believes these updated proposed rules will lead to a modern, science-based food safety system that will better protect American consumers from potentially hazardous food," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said in a statement. “We look forward to public comment on these proposals."
FDA said it would accept comments on the proposed revisions for 75 days while continuing to review comments in sections of proposed rules that are remaining the same. The agency intends to issue final rules next year.
Signed into law nearly four years ago, FSMA is aimed to prevent foodborne illness, an acknowledgment that reacting to a crisis after it has occurred is often too little, too late.