The following material covers the latest information on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most sweeping reform to food safety laws in more than 70 years. It was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011. FSMA aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from response to prevention through manufacturing practices, preventive controls, and education and outreach. The law applies to human food as well as food for animals, including pets. The intent of this page is to highlight the FSMA content that will be of most interest to manufacturers and distributors of animal food.
The final rule was published in September 2015. Compliance dates are staggered and based on the size of the business. Large animal food facilities were required to comply with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements by September 2016.
The second major compliance date was September 18, 2017. On that date large animal food facilities were required to comply with the Preventive Controls for Animal Food portion of the rule. Small business were required to comply with the cGMP requirements. The next major compliance dates come in September 2018, when small businesses will also have to meet preventive controls requirements and very small businesses must implement the cGMPs.
This rule requires animal food facilities to have a written food safety plan that includes a hazard analysis and a list of all hazards requiring a preventive control. If the facility identified hazards requiring a preventive control the rule also requires the facility develop a recall plan.
Who needs to comply with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act?
If an entity manufactures, processes, packs, or holds animal food, including pet food, that facility likely needs to register for the Bioterrorism Act and comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act Requirements. One exemption is if that facility is a retail food establishment, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and vending machine locations. Some small or medium-sized pet food manufacturers may meet this exemption if the value of food sold directly to pet owners is greater than the value of food sold to other entities. If a pet food manufacturer has more than 50% of sales directly to consumers, they are exempt from these requirements. However, if more than 50% of sales are to another retailer or other entity, the manufacturer of pet food must register as a food facility and comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act. This course will help those entities understand the regulation and requirements of their facilities.