Eight prominent food industry organizations have united to form the “Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration” -- “to enhance industry-wide awareness of the [FDA’s] Food Traceability Rule, which implements Section 204(d) of the … Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).”
Participating organizations include: Institute of Food Technologists, FMI – The Food Industry Association, International Fresh Produce Association, Association of Food and Drug Officials, GS1 US, International Foodservice Distributors Association, International Foodservice Manufacturers Association and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
“The collaboration will share clear, concise messaging and resources that enable industry to take action in preparing for FSMA Rule 204, which was published in November 2022,” the kickoff announcement read. “FSMA Rule 204 mandates a comprehensive tracking and tracing system for certain high-risk foods listed on the U.S. FDA's Food Traceability List (FTL), including fresh produce and leafy greens, deli salads, certain types of seafood and more.
“The collaboration will provide a forum where business and government officials can come together to educate industry and potentially help ease the burden of compliance.”
Although the rule does not mandate computerized track and trace systems, this group wants to promote awareness and understanding of emerging traceability technologies to help ensure the safety and integrity of the food supply chain.
This comes on the heels of two consulting groups launching a similar effort that they say includes the FDA itself. The Partnership for Food Traceability was unveiled last week by The Acheson Group and Leavitt Partners, who promise participation from FDA, state and local officials.
“Compliance with FSMA Rule 204 presents a significant challenge for U.S. and foreign agri-food interests, as it imposes unprecedented recordkeeping requirements and necessitates the adoption of advanced traceability technologies,” Angela Fernandez, senior vice president of market development of GS1 US, said in the FSMA 204 Collaboration announcement.
“By convening food safety, supply chain logistics and data management experts across many food segments, the new collaboration aims to share best practices for meeting Food Traceability Rule requirements,” she concluded.
