Food Safety Standards

The FSMA law signed by Congress in 2011 includes preventive food safety regulations and implementation strategies designed to protect the U.S. food supply from production to consumption.

• Food Safety Outreach Program [nifa.usda.gov]
• The Food Safety Modernization Act in a Nutshell [nist.gov]
• FDA Announces FSMA Food Traceability Proposed Rule, A Major Milestone in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety [fda.gov]
• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Overview [fda.gov]

• Guidance for Industry: Juice HACCP and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act [fda.gov]

• Food Safety Modernization Act Guidance Documents [fda.gov]
• FSMA Training [fda.gov]

The produce safety rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requires science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. 

• Hydroponic and Aquaponic Grower Guidance [uvm.edu]
• Food Safety Modernization Act Resources:  Extension Legal Services Initiative [necafs.org]
• NECAFS Produce Safety Handbook for Buyers [necafs.org]
• FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption [fda.gov]
• The Produce Safety Alliance - A Public/Private Partnership for the Produce Industry [ams.usda.gov]
• State Produce Implementation Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP) [fda.gov]
• Southern Center for Food Safety Training, Outreach, and Technical Assistance [ifas.ufl.edu]
• Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety [agsci.oregonstate.edu]
• The Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety [uvm.edu/extension]
• North Central Region Center for FSMA Training, Extension, and Technical Assistance [ncrfsma.org]

The Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requires that reasonable measures and precautions are taken to minimize the risk of food contamination. 

• Food Safety Modernization Act - Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule [extension.psu.edu]
• FSMA Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food [fda.gov]
• Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule [foodsafety.wsu.edu]

Resources about preventive methods for food safety systems such as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).

• HACCP Guidance [fsis.usda.gov]
• FDA - HACCP [fda.gov]

Provides HACCP resources for meat and poultry processing plants such as training materials, implementation guidelines, HACCP plans, supporting documentation materials, and more.

• HACCP Guidelines [fsis.usda.gov]
• Small and Very Small Plant Guidance [fsis.usda.gov]
• HACCP Resources [meat.tamu.edu/extension]
• HACCP Information and Resources [food.unl.edu]

Includes HACCP resources for school food service, food retail, and catering such as monitoring forms and checklists, guidelines, training materials, sample plans, and publications.

• Managing Food Safety: A Manual for the Voluntary Use of HACCP Principles for Operators of Food Service and Retail  Establishments [fda.gov]
• Food Code 201 [fda.gov] [PDF, 5.65 MB]
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) [extension.iastate.edu]

A variety of seafood HACCP resources including training information and protocols, education materials, HACCP manuals, and sample HACCP plans.

• Seafood HACCP [fda.gov]
• NOAA’s Seafood Inspection Program [fisheries.noaa.gov]
• Compendium of Fish and Fishery Product Processes, Hazards, and Controls [seafood.oregonstate.edu]
• Seafood HACCP [seafood.oregonstate.edu]
• Retail Product Warehousing and Transit Controls in Compliance with Current Seafood HACCP Regulations [fmi.org] [PDF, 772 KB]

Food defense initiatives and resources for biosecurity to protect the U.S. food and agricultural systems. 

• Food Defense and Emergency Response [fsis.usda.gov]
• Food Defense Initiatives [fda.gov]
• Biosecurity to Protect America’s Food and Agricultural System [nifa.usda.gov] [PDF, 4.91 MB]
• Animal Disease Traceability [aphis.usda.gov]
• Traceability in the Food Supply Chain [oig.hhs.gov] [PDF, 619 KB]