FDA issues first new rules under Food Safety Modernization Act

FDA issues first new rules under Food Safety Modernization Act

2011-05-05 05:02:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND (BNO NEWS) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced two new regulations that will help ensure the safety and security of foods in the United States.

In January, President Barack Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into law, and the new rules issued by the FDA are the first under the agency's new authority. Both rules will take effect July 3.

Beginning in July, the FDA will be able to detain food products that it has reason to believe are adulterated or misbranded for up to 30 days, if needed, to ensure they are kept out of the marketplace.

The products will be kept out of the marketplace while the agency determines whether an enforcement action such as seizure or federal injunction against distribution of the product in commerce is necessary.

The first rule is expected to strengthen the FDA's ability to prevent potentially unsafe food from entering commerce and allow it 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.

Before the new rule, the FDA would often work with state agencies to embargo a food product under the state's legal authority until federal enforcement action could be initiated in federal court. In keeping with other provisions in the FSMA, FDA will continue to work with state agencies on food safety and build stronger ties with those agencies.

The second rule requires anyone importing food into the United States to inform the FDA if any country has refused entry to the same product, including food for animals.

This new requirement will provide the agency with more information about foods that are being imported, which improves the FDA's ability to target foods that may pose a significant risk to public health.

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