Apr 1, 2019

FDA offers FSMA ‘Coverage and Exemptions/Exclusions’ document

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law on Jan. 4, 2011 by President Obama. The goal of this law is to ensure the the U.S. food supply remains safe by shifting the focus to preventing contamination instead of responding to it.

Compliance dates for “most produce” that has a business size of greater than $500,000 was Jan. 26, 2018. The water compliance dates are Jan. 272020. As of Jan. 26, 2018, every covered farm must have one employee per farming operation complete a food safety training held by the produce safety alliance approved instructor list. This training is a one time class that covers your farm with part of the FSMA requirements.

The “Coverage and Exemptions/Exclusions” document, provided by the FDA, helps guide farmers to know if they are “exempt.” Once the questions are answered, it does not mean that you are entirely exempt from following this law, it simply means you must “still comply with certain modified requirements and keep certain documentation.”