FAQ

FSMA for Food & Beverages

President Barack Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into law in 2011. It represents the most sweeping reform of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food safety authority in more than 70 years.

Congress drafted the legislation to proactively prevent contamination in the U.S. food supply chain, rather than focus on efforts to respond to it. FSMA emerged “in response to dramatic changes in the global food system and in our understanding of foodborne illness and its consequences, including the realization that preventable foodborne illness is both a significant public health problem and a threat to the economic well-being of the food system.”

Lawmakers designed FSMA to focus on compelling food, beverage, and dietary supplements manufacturers and suppliers to adopt more stringent safety standards, including more exacting documentation requirements to guarantee a safer, more secure supply chain. Key features include Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP), and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).

However, because of its broad scope, it can be challenging for food and beverage companies – and raw material suppliers – to feel completely confident in figuring out what’s required of them and where the burden of responsibility falls for compliance.

Download this FAQ to learn how TraceGains can help your business better manage FSMA requirements.