Mar 1, 2012

Food safety: New FDA rule expands access to food industry records

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an interim rule that gives the agency expanded access to records from the food industry.

The Food Safety Modernization Act amendment expands FDA’s former records access authority beyond those relating to the specific food in question during an investigation to records relating to any other food that FDA “reasonably believes is likely to be affected in a similar manner,” according to the posting in the federal register. The rule also gives FDA authority to review records regarding any other food it believes “will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.” Under the amendment, records must be produced within 24 hours of the time of the official request.

The rule is intended to strengthen the agency’s ability to respond to and contain health threats by foods suspected of contamination.

In the interest of public health, FDA states, the rule takes effect today, March 1. However, FDA will still accept public comments through May 23.