In the wake of several foodborne illness outbreaks in the US, the country's watchdog has finalized two rules that require firms to identify food safety risks and detail measures to prevent or minimize such risks from occuring.
Following the passage of Food Safety Modernization Act, these rules are the first of the proposed seven, reported Reuters.
FSMA was approved as law in 2011 and is considered to be a significant reform in the US food industry in over the last seven decades.
FSMA has granted more power to FDA to inspect facilities and farms in order to prevent foodborne illnesses. Simply put, FSMA has attached more significance to preventive measures than merely reactive measures to food safety incidents.
Touted as Obama administration's core priority, the rules have been facing delays due to lawsuits filed by advocacy groups. Subsequently, the rules came under court-ordered deadline .
The rules will be implemented later this year.
In the recent past, foodborne illness outbreaks have been linked to ice cream, caramel apples, cantaloupes and peanuts.
The first of two rules, which focus on food manufacturing processes, require firms to develop written plans on food safety measures they intend to take and identify, and detail ways to prevent or reduce risks.
The remaining five rules are likely to be finalized by next year. Among these, one rule focuses on placing stringent requirements on importers to verify the safety of their products. This is because 15% of the current food supply is met by importers.
Every year, one in six Americans fall victim to food-borne diseases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annually around 128,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 die.
