OTA submits final comments to FDA on FSMA proposals

On behalf of its members, OTA has submitted final comments toFDA on the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the proposed Preventive Controls Rule. OTA’s comments were guided by three critical factors: 1) FDA’s mandate to establish science-based and risk-based minimum standards that will minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences or death; 2) FDA’s mandate to develop rules that do not duplicate or conflict with existing organic regulations; and 3) FDA’s intention to create a flexible regulation that will accommodate future changes in science and technology and the particularities of local growing conditions and commodities. The next step is for FDA to review all comments submitted, make changes, and either publish final rules or publish the revised rules for another round of comments. We thank the member volunteers of OTA’s Food Safety Task Force and partnering organizations who helped develop our comments. OTA will continue to engage the task force and develop comments on the proposed Preventive Controls for Food for Animal Rule, due in late February 2014. If you have any questions on our comments, contact Gwendolyn Wyard.