FDA Seeks Comments on IFTs Report on Product Tracing Pilots

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking public comment on a report from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) titled Pilot Projects for Improving Product Tracing along the Food Supply System." Section 204 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires the agency to establish product tracing pilot projects. In September 2011, FDA asked IFT to carry out the pilot projects under an existing contract.

The pilot projects are designed to explore and demonstrate methods for rapid and effective tracking and tracing of food, including types of data that are useful for tracing, ways to connect the various points in the supply chain and how quickly data can be made available to FDA. In addition to providing the findings of the pilot projects, the report contains IFTs recommendations to FDA for improving the tracking and tracing of food. FDA requests information that may help it form our its recommendations. The agency offer recommendations in its Report to Congress, which also is required by section 204 of FSMA.

FSMA also requires that FDA initiate rulemaking on recordkeeping requirements for high-risk foods to make tracing them easier. FDA will consider the comments received on the IFT report in implementing this FSMA provision.

Comments are due within 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register on March 5, 2013. Comments can be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov; enter docket number FDA-2012-N-1153.