Food Safety Modernization Act Listening Session / Webinar - April 24th

Dear Michigan Food and Agriculture Industry members:

The Food Safety Modernization Act, the most sweeping reform to food safety in more than 70 years, was signed into law in early 2011.  On January 16, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published proposed rules for two sections in FSMA.  These proposed rules cover Produce Safety and Preventive Controls for Human Food.   The publishing of these proposed rules marked the start of a 120-day public comment period, which ends May 16, 2013. 

On April 24, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will host a listening session for the Food Safety Modernization Act proposed Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Controls Rule.  A “Save the Date” flyer is attached.  Presenters from FDA will be on hand to discuss the rules and answer questions.   If you are interested in receiving details about this listening session, please send your name, affiliation, phone number and email address to http://MDA-FoodDairyInfo@michigan.gov.

Since seating at the listening session is limited and the goal is to get input from as many producers and processors as possible, there will be an opportunity to participate in the listening session via webinar.  MDARD is working with industry partners and Michigan State University Extension to have satellite locations available around the state for those who may not have high-speed Internet capabilities.

You are encouraged to visit the FDA website at www.fda.gov/fsma to review the FSMA fact sheets prior to the listening session.  Please note that this is a listening session, not a formal hearing.  If you are interested in providing formal comments to FDA about the proposed rules, you will need to post them to the federal register.  Go to the FSMA website at www.fda.gov/fsma, click on the fact sheet about the proposed rule for which you wish to post comments and then click on the Docket Number for that rule.