Effective March 18, four additional importers are required to comply with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program Rule (FSVP), which requires importers to ensure that foreign food suppliers are meeting the food safety standards the FDA requires of domestic food manufacturers.
The additional types of importers that must comply with the FSVP:
- importers of animal food whose small business foreign supplier is subject to the requirements under the Preventative Controls for Animal Food rule;
- importers of human food Grade "A" milk and milk products whose foreign supplier is subject to the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance;
- importers of human food whose foreign supplier is a qualified facility; and
- importers of animal food whose foreign supplier is a qualified facility subject to current good manufacturing practices in the Preventative Controls for Animal Food rule.
These importers are the most recent group that are required to comply with the FSVP. Other importers that must already be in compliance with the FSVP include small and very small produce farms and sprout producers.
If you are an importer of foreign foods to whom the FSVP rule already applies, you must implement the measures stated above. Even if you are an importer whose foreign supplier does not yet have to comply with the FSVP rule, you should begin developing a verification program so that you are prepared to adhere to the rule when it becomes effective for your operation.
Next Post: On July 26, 2019, large businesses must comply with the intentional adulteration rule.
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