Massachusetts Environmental Health Association-News

Food Safety Modernization Act

FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 4, 2011
Media Inquiries: Doug Karas, 301-796-2805, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA issues first new rules under Food Safety Modernization Act Rules to prevent potentially unsafe food from reaching consumers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced two new regulations that will help ensure the safety and security of foods in the United States. The rules are the first to be issued by the FDA under the new authorities granted the agency by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law by President Obama in January. Both rules will take effect July 3, 2011.

The first rule strengthens FDA’s ability to prevent potentially unsafe food from entering commerce.  It allows the FDA to administratively detain food the agency believes has been produced under insanitary or unsafe conditions.  Previously, the FDA’s ability to detain food products applied only when the agency had credible evidence that a food product presented was contaminated or mislabeled in a way that presented a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.

Click here to learn more (external link to... http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm253983.htm).

Click here to view informative webcasts (external link to... http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm249243.htm)