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FDA Produce Safety Rule

In September, 2016 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarded the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) a five-year grant to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.  FSMA is the most comprehensive reform of food safety laws in the United States in over 70 years.  FSMA was signed into law in January 2011 and aims to create an integrated food safety system that can reduce foodborne illnesses. The Produce Safety Rule is one of seven rules created by FSMA.  The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based minimum standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.  Key components of the Produce Safety Rule include water quality, application of biological soil amendments, health and hygiene training for farm personnel, and sanitation of equipment, tools, and buildings.

LDAF is currently developing a produce safety program for the state of Louisiana. This program will be designed to encourage the safe production of fresh fruits and vegetables in the state. LDAF is also working with the LSU Agricultural Center and the Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus to ensure that all produce growers in the state are informed and educated on how the Produce Safety Rule impacts them. In order to successfully implement the Produce Safety Rule in Louisiana, LDAF needs to build a complete list of produce growers in Louisiana.

To receive information and updates on the implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in Louisiana, please complete the Produce Safety Rule Survey below. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Allison Dumas at 225-935-2161 or email.

LA Produce Safety Farm Survey

FSMA compliance dates

On-Farm Readiness Reviews

Sign-up for On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) in Fall 2018. The OFRR is a voluntary, non-regulatory program available to help produce growers assess their readiness for inspection under the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. This program consists of observations during farming operations to identify areas for improvement concerning food safety practices. To register for OFRR, please fill out the survey at the link below.

On-Farm Readiness Review Registration Survey

 

Produce Safety Program

Covered Farms

Safe Water

Upcoming Training Opportunities

The LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences will host the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Course training, on Feb 22 – 25, 2021.  Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this training is being offered virtually on the Zoom platform over a 4-day period.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation requires that certain activities in a food processing industry must be completed by a “preventive controls qualified individual” who has “successfully completed training in the development and application of risk-based preventive controls”.

The LSU AgCenter offers this course developed by the FSPCA which is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA; successfully completing this course is one way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual.”

Registration Fee: $450 that covers the certificate fees issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials that satisfies the requirement for a “preventive controls qualified individual.”

Download the course brouchure, HERE.

To register for the course, follow this link: https://store.lsuagcenter.com/p-459-fspca-preventative-controls-of-human-food-february-2021.aspx

 

Resources

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