United Fresh Applauds FDA Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United Fresh Produce Association said last week that it “applauds” the announcement that FDA will issue a second round of draft rules concerning key provisions and seek additional public comments. The announcement was made by FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine Michael Taylor, who said that FDA will issue a second round of draft rules concerning key provisions and seek additional public comments. The rule provisions undergoing major revisions focus on water quality standards and testing, standards for using raw manure and compost, provisions affecting mixed-use facilities, and procedures for withdrawing the qualified exemption for certain farms.

“We are encouraged that FDA took seriously the extensive input they received from produce farmers and others in the agricultural sector with respect to the proposed Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules,” said United’s David Gombas, senior vice president of food safety and technology. “We appreciate FDA’s willingness to rethink these provisions and propose requirements that are more science and risk based. It is critical that FDA gets these FSMA rules right, and we believe this is a step in the right direction.”

On Sept. 24, United Fresh urged FDA to issue a second set of proposed rules, saying it was appropriate for FDA to study all public comments and then issue a revised proposed rule for comment before issuing a final rule.