The FDA has recently released new food safety standards. So since it’s Thanksgiving, I thought we’d take a look at them today! Since all FDA regulations are in response to legislation, the new standards support the Food Safety Modernization Act. It is part of the effort to create a unified foundation for all regulatory agencies that provide oversight of food manufacturing plants.
There are 10 new Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards. The 2016 Editions replace the original releases from 2007. These standards have requirements meant to reduce foodborne illness and injury. Like many quality management systems, the standards focus on training, inspection, preparedness and response, record-keeping and investigations, laboratory resources, and program assessment. The program standards are a tool to promote continuous improvement in manufactured food safety.
These new food safety standards are intended to be used not only by the FDA, but by various other jurisdictions here in the U.S. 43 states are currently enrolled in the program. So the standards will not only be reviewed by industry, but also by federal and state agencies. These standards will help folks improve regulatory activities for reducing foodborne illness hazards in plants that manufacture, process, pack or hold foods.
Here is a list of the 10 new food safety standards:
- Standard 1 – Regulatory Foundation
- Standard 2 – Training Program
- Standard 3 – Inspection Program
- Standard 4 – Inspection Audit Program
- Standard 5 – Food-related Illness and Outbreaks and Response
- Standard 6 – Compliance and Enforcement Program
- Standard 7 – Industry and Community Relations
- Standard 8 – Program Resources
- Standard 9 – Program Assessment
- Standard 10 – Laboratory Services
You can get a copy of the new Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards here. We also have the publication here at Document Center Inc. You are welcome to search for and order standards and other regulatory publications at our webstore, www.document-center.com.
We will be closed Thursday and Friday in honor of the Thanksgiving Holidays. We wish you and your family a wonderful weekend!