It aims to ensure the US food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to contamination to preventing it. FDA FSMA includes preventive controls for Human Food and Animal Food; contains specific requirements for Foreign Food Suppliers and Importers; and identification of Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals just to name a few.

Third Party Certification, Independent Assurance and Training: The Food Safety Modernization Act gives the FDA authority for the first time to ensure that imported products meet US standards and are safe for US consumers, and specific requirements are in place for Foreign Supplier Verification.

GFSI Recognized Certification – FSSC 22000 and BRC: It is important for organizations impacted under FDA FSMA – as well as their suppliers – to obtain certification to a GFSI-recognized standard such as FSSC 22000 for Food Manufacturing and Packaging, FSSC 22000 for Animal Food, or the BRC Global Standard for Food in order to help further ensure compliance with FSMA requirements.

HACCP vs HARPC: The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act introduces requirements beyond HACCP, called Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls or HARPC. HARPC encompasses far more in the way of food safety assessment and control than a traditional HACCP plan.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Human Food rule and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Animal Food are both now final, and compliance dates for some businesses begin in September 2016. Preventive Controls Qualified Individual: The FDA has engaged the Illinois Institute of Technology to develop a recognized training course to satisfy the requirements around the PC Qualified Individual, including gaining a full understanding of the regulations around the Preventative Controls for Human Food. SMG offers the FDA-recognized FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food course in both Public and Onsite settings.