The FDA today issued new draft guidance that clarifies and extends compliance dates for certain parts of four of its seven foundational FSMA rules.
The new draft guidance does a few things so far:
- Provides more time for meeting requirements related to certain assurances needed from customers
- Extends deadlines for importers of food-contact substances
- Provides extensions to align compliance dates for various other food operations
- Allows more time for the FDA to resolve specified issues
- Clarifies the timeframe for agricultural water testing.
Today’s published guidance is available for comment starting tomorrow, August 24. It’s the first five chapters of multi-chapter guidance designed to help food businesses reach full compliance. The FDA expects to continue releasing additional chapters of this guidance through early 2018.
