Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/691740
FOREIGN SUPPLIER VERIFICATION PROGRAM Here are suggested dates for activities that you should complete to prepare for the implementation of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program. Dates vary by business category. Details on each activity can be found at fda.gov IMPORTERS Final Compliance Date May 29, 2017 Facility Registration December 2016 Supply Chain Program September 2016 Risk Evaluation October 2016 Hazard Analysis June 2016 On-site Inspections March 2017 and ongoing VERY SMALL IMPORTERS (Less than $1 million in annual imports) Small Foreign Supplier (Qualified Facility) Final Compliance Date May 29, 2017 Facility Registration December 2016 Written Assurances from Suppliers March 2017 Annual Document of Eligibility May 2017 and ongoing ! WHAT IS FSMA? The Food Safety Modernization Act is a series of laws that increase the power of the Food and Drug Administration to prevent unsafe food instead of simply responding when an outbreak occurs. The Act's first two regulations focus on: • Preventive Controls, which require food companies to docu- ment food-safety systems, hazard analysis, and good manufacturing processes. • Foreign Supplier Verification, which requires importers to take more control over the food chain. WHERE TO GO FOR HELP • FDA Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance: iit.edu/ifsh/alliance • fda.gov Specialty Food Association: • Go to the Knowledge Center on specialtyfood.com to download webinars: —The Food Safety Modernization Act: What You Need to Know in 2016 and Beyond —The Food Safety Modernization Act: The Latest on the Foreign Supplier Verification Program and Third-Party Certification • Specialty Food Association mem- bers may also participate in Food Safety Conference Calls, held the first Monday of each month. SUMMER 2016 129