FDA Releases Food Defense Guidance
The supplemental draft guidance adds to the draft guidance previously published in March 2019 with chapters covering topics focusing on food defense corrective actions, food defense verification, reanalysis, and recordkeeping. It also includes appendices on FDA’s mitigation strategies database and how businesses can determine Small and Very Small Businesses status under the Food Defense rule.
AMS to Require More Businesses (Including Wholesalers) to Get Organic Certification; Adds Import Documentation Requirements
Under the new proposed rule, additional businesses will need to get organic certification. This includes businesses that do any of the following:
- Buy or sell organic products
- Negotiate sales between buyers and sellers
- Import or export organic products
- Split, combine or repackage loads
- Exceptions that would not require certification: Retail, transport and storage
- An electronic import certificate will be required for each organic shipment
More information here. The proposed rule is expected to be published in upcoming weeks.
FDA VQIP Portal Online Now
FDA has launched its Voluntary Qualified Importer Portal. The portal is available here. VQIP is intended to provide for fewer holds of imported foods to those who abide by specific requirements. A substantial annual user fee is required to participate.
FSIS Releases Updated Establishment Directory
The directory is available here.
FSIS Updates List of Establishments from Canada and Uruguay to Export to the U.S.
FDA Draft Guidance on Animal Food Additive Petitions and GRAS Notices
FDA has released a draft guidance describing the recommended types of information for stakeholders (industry, academia, other organizations, or an individual) to include in consultations with FDA, before submitting an animal food additive petition (FAP) or a notice concluding that a substance is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for its intended use in animal food to the agency. More information here.
USDA Suspends PACA Licenses of Twelve Firms
The firms include:
- Lurie Brothers LLC, operating out of Chicago, Ill.
- Central America Specialties Inc., operating out of Beltsville, Md.
- A & A Vegetables Inc., operating out of Hicksville, N.Y.
- Hunter Bros. Inc., operating out of Philadelphia Pa.
- Lorex Produce LLC, operating out of Rio Rico, Ariz.
- Arizona Lemons LLC, operating out of Phoenix Ariz.
- Perfect Harvest Inc., operating out of Nogales, Ariz.
- Super HK HG LLC, doing business as Hong Kong Supermarket, operating out of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.
- Basic Meats Supermarket Inc., doing business as Bravo Dixie Supermarket, operating out of Miami, Fla.
- Farmway Inc., operating out of Hudson, Fla.
- Organic Harvest LLC, operating out of Miami, Fla.
- Mibo Fresh Foods LLC, operating out of Fort Worth, Texas.
More information here.
Latest FDA Import Alerts
The latest FDA import alerts are available here. They include import alerts on pesticides, misbranding, salmonella, illegal colors and more.
Latest FDA Warning Letters:
Posted Date |
Company |
Issuing Office |
Subject |
02/11/2020 |
Cigar Hookah and Beyond LLC |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
02/11/2020 |
Evolution Vaping Limited |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
02/11/2020 |
Neptunus Seafood B.V. |
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |
Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated |
02/11/2020 |
TP. Food Canning Ltd., Part. |
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) |
Acidified Foods/Emergency Permit Control/Adulterated/Misbranded |
02/11/2020 |
VaporBreak |
Center for Tobacco Products |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Please contact Erik Lieberman at elieberman@usfoodimports.com or 202.765.1800 if you have questions or would like additional information. |