The FDA's Produce Rule: What's Next?

By Scott Horsfall, CEO, California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement

In November of 2015, the FDA published the final version of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption, better known as the Produce Rule. This Rule — part of FSMA — grants the FDA unprecedented authority over food safety practices implemented on farms in this country, and by extension, to farms all over the world. But what does this mean for the food industry?

The Produce Rule is one of five FSMA-mandated rules finalized so far. The FDA had earlier published final rules covering food facilities and animal food. The Produce Rule arrived along with rules covering foreign supplier verification and accreditation of inspections for foreign farms. Still to come are rules covering transportation and intentional adulteration of foods.