FSMA

On May 6, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its final rule for agricultural water provisions under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

The FDA has proposed significant changes to Subpart E of the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, which would amend the pre-harvest ag water requirements. To help growers understand what this proposal means, and how it could impact their operation, the Washington State Department of Agriculture is teaming up with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to host a

Representative Dan Newhouse is praising the FDA for a proposal that would reclassify almonds, hops, pulse crops and wine grapes.  The proposal which has been in the pipeline for years would exempt those commodities from the Food Safety Modernization Act.  Ne...

A new study says the cost burden for fruit and vegetable farms to comply with new FDA produce safety rules varies with the size of the farm.         If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com...

The heads of the USDA and the FDA acknowledge partnership will be essential towards streamlining produce safety requirements for farmers, as well as strengthening overall food safety oversight.  Such collaborators include other federal agencies and state partners in areas such as proper training of auditors and inspectors and educating producers in changes to both USDA's Harmonized Good Agricultur

USDA has already modernized the food safety inspection system for poultry processing plants and is in the process of updating the system for swine, and now the agency is looking a similar move for beef.  Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety Carmen Roddenberg in Washington DC this week said, as in poultry and swine,   "There's a great deal of technological advancements and there are op

As the 2018 legislative session came to an end in Olympia, one bill signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee will help farmers with new federal rules coming down the road.  Senate Bill 6319, championed by Senator Jim Honeyford, permits the Washington State Department of Agriculture to cooperate in the implementation of the federal Produce Safety Rule under FSMA.  Th...

Grocery Manufacturers Association CEO Pamela Bailey will retire later this year, following ten years of leading the organization.  Bailey will continue in her role as CEO while the association’s board of directors searches for her replacement.  In a statemen...

Despite recent improvements, a key agency responsible for the nation’s food safety is still way behind in modernizing the nation’s food safety system.  That assessment recently came from the Food and Drug Administration’s own inspector general as well as lawmakers who have oversight.  Several years ago, C...

WSU Extension’s Dr. Stephanie Smith will be leading a grower training workshop on the Food Safety Modernization Act January 26th at WSU’s Pullman campus.   The course is part of the Produce Safety Alliance standardized national training program that identifies key areas and learning objectives for growers.   The sev...