FSMA Resources

Produce Safety Alliance
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) is a collaborative project between Cornell University, United States Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration. The overarching objective of the Alliance is to provide the produce industry and associated groups with training and educational opportunities related to current best practices and guidance, and future regulatory requirements. This PSA website offers a wealth of resources, links, and future training opportunities.

Overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (FST-270NP)
This brief factsheet provides a nice overview of the PSR.

new Visión General de la Ley de Modernización de la Inocuidad de los Alimentos; Norma de la Inocuidad de los Productos Agrícolas Frescos (FST-291NP)
This factsheet provides a nice overview of the PSR (Spanish version)

Final Rule on Produce Safety At-a-Glance Factsheet
This seven page FDA factsheet offers a nice synopsis of the key requirements of the PSR.

Rarely Consumed Raw Produce
This FDA factsheet details produce that is defined as “rarely consumed raw”, which is important for determining covered and exempt products.

new Productos Agrícolas Frescos “Raramente Consumidos Crudos”
Spanish version of the “Rarely Consumed Raw Produce” factsheet

new Produce Safety Rule: Enforcement Policy for Entities Growing, Harvesting, Packing, or Holding Hops, Wine Grapes, Pulse Crops, and Almonds
FDA’s guidance for guidance related to these commodities (March 2019)

VDACS Produce Safety Program
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services received federal grant funding in 2016 to establish a Produce Safety Program within the Office of Dairy and Foods. This regulatory program is working to address the growing, packing, holding and dissemination of produce grown on farms and encourages the safe production of fruits and vegetables and promotes understanding and compliance with the FDA Produce Safety Rule and state legislation. Visit this site to find out more.

Implementation of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule in Virginia
An overview of the work by VDACS Produce Safety Program.

Coverage and Exemptions Flowchart for Produce Safety Rule (PSR)
This simple flowchart can help you determine if you are covered by the PSR.

Is my farm operation covered or exempt from the Produce Safety Rule?
Interactive flowchart tool (English version)

¿Mi huerta está cubierta o exenta de la Norma de Inocuidad de los Productos Agrícolas Frescos (PSA por sus siglas en Ingles)?
Interactive flowchart tool (Spanish version)

new Does my Farm have to Comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule? A Tool to Assist Producers (FST-294NP)
This factsheet provides a written format of the interactive flowchart tool immediately above

FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule…Are you Covered or Exempt?
This excellent document from the Southern Center for Training, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance to Enhance Produce Safety outlines everything you need to know about whether or not you are covered or exempt under the rule.  While the document is lengthy, it is well worth the read to better understand the PSR.

Revised Compliance Dates
Simple chart showing compliance dates for the PSR

Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule: Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training  (FST-278NP)
This factsheet provides a nice overview of this vital part of the regulation including key requirements and recordkeeping.

Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule: Agricultural water (FST-271NP)
This excellent factsheet provides details about how agricultural water is defined in the PSR, establishing a microbial water quality profile, what corrective measures are acceptable, and simple recordkeeping suggestions.

The Water Analysis Method Requirement in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule
Information about monitoring agricultural water quality as outlined in the PSR.

new Metodología de Ensayos Equivalentes para Agua de Uso Agríciola
Equivalent Testing Methodology for Agricultural Water (Spanish)

Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule: Wildlife and Domesticated Animals (FST-272NP)
This factsheet provides a look at the key standards related to wildlife and domesticated animals.

Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin (FDA Factsheet Jul 2018)
At a glance overview (English version).

Mejoradores Biológicos de Suelo de Origen Animal (FDA Factsheet Jul 2018)
At a glance overview (Spanish version).

Raw Manure under the FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety
Why FDA Wants Public Input on Assessing the Risk of Raw Manure as Fertilizer: A Q&A with Samir Assar

Composting and Compost Use
VCE’s site which includes training, websites, and resources links

new Cyclosporiasis and Fresh Produce
Factsheet detailing this pathogen and requirements of the PSR

new Cyclosporiasis y los Productos Agrícolas Frescos
Spanish version of factsheet about Cyclosporiasis

On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR)
Available for farms in Virginia covered by the PSR prior to compliance dates.

Produce Safety Inspections: FDA Portal

What to Expect for a Regulatory Inspection
Informational handout for producers about PSR inspections

Final Rule on Preventive Controls of Human Foods At-a-Glance Factsheet
This four page FDA factsheet provides a nice overview of the Preventive Controls Rule (PCR) and outlines key requirements and compliance dates.

VDACS Handbook for Small Food Businesses
This resource covers a wide of range of foods and what is entailed in terms of complying with food safety regulations and practices for food manufacturing and processing businesses.

Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance
This broad-based public private alliance consists of key industry, academic and government stakeholders.  The FSPCA has developed a nationwide core curriculum, training and outreach programs to assist companies producing human and animal food in complying with the preventive controls regulations. The websites below have links to various related topics.
https://www.ifsh.iit.edu/fspca
https://www.ifsh.iit.edu/fspca/resources

Food Innovations Program
The Food Innovations Program provides assistance for Virginia’s food processing industry to produce high quality, safe, and innovative food products, and provides excellent information about food safety, pertinent food regulations, and general concerns associated with starting a food business.  The Food Innovations Program also offers food testing services to help ensure food safety and regulatory compliance for new food products entering the market. In addition, this program can provide nutrition facts panels for your product's label.  The website provides links to many resources.
Brochure

Southern Center
As part of our efforts to provide education and outreach in the FSMA PSR and PCRHF, the FPSFT is part of the Southern Center.  The Southern Center includes participation from land-grant institutions in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.  To learn more about the Southern Center, other regional centers in the US, or find information related to FSMA training in the southern US, visit the Southern Center website.

new Questions and Answers Regarding Mandatory Food Recalls: Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff
FDA’s guidance to commonly asked questions related to mandatory recalls (Nov 2018)