President Barack Obama signed into law the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”) on January 4, 2011. FSMA is the greatest expansion of FDA’s food regulatory authority since the enactment in 1938 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FSMA enlarges FDA’s power to regulate the safety procedures, domestically and internationally, for the producing, manufacturing, packaging, storing, and transporting food. Also, FSMA provides FDA with new powers to regulate food imports by increasing FDA's ability to inspect foreign and domestic facilities, increasing FDA's enforcement powers, (including broadening FDA's administrative detention powers and FDA's ability to obtain information), and granting FDA the authority to issue mandatory recalls. Food manufacturers, importers, and distributors must begin preparing now to comply with the new requirements. 

BLOGS & PRESS RELEASES

Newest to Oldest

• FDA's Interim Final Rule for Food Records Access [Blog 3.5.2012]

• FDA Reports to Congress on FDA Foreign Offices [Blog 3.2.2012]

• FSMA Stumbles into 2012, Already Behind the 8-Ball [Blog 1.10.2012]

RESOURCES

• US Senate Passes The Food Safety Modernization Act: Importers Beware! [Article]

• FSMA Video Overview [YouTube Video Playlist]

• FSMA: Scope, Impact & Implementation [Slideshow]

• FSMA Implementation Timeline [Article]

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