Strengthening FDA's ability to prevent potentially unsafe food from entering commerce, the first rule allows the FDA to administratively detain food the agency believes has been produced under unsanitary or unsafe conditions.
Previously, the FDA's ability to detain food products applied only when the agency had credible evidence that a food product presented was contaminated or mislabeled in a way that presented a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. In July, the FDA will be able to detain food products that it has reason to believe are adulterated or misbranded for up to 30 days, if needed, to ensure they are kept out of the marketplace, while the agency determines whether an enforcement action such as seizure or federal injunction against distribution of the product in commerce is necessary. Before this new rule, the FDA would often work with state agencies to embargo a food product under the state's legal authority until federal enforcement action could be initiated in federal court. In keeping with other provisions in the FSMA, FDA will continue to work with state agencies on food safety and build stronger ties with those agencies.
"This authority strengthens significantly the FDA's ability to keep potentially harmful food from reaching
The second rule requires anyone importing food into the
FDA Web Page: Food Safety Modernization Act (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/default.htm)
Federal Register Notice for Interim Final Rule on Criteria Used to Order Administrative Detention of Food for Human or Animal Consumption http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-10953_PI.pdf
Federal Register Notice for Interim Final Rule on Information Required in Prior Notice of Imported Food http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-10955_PI.pdf