GS1 US Releases Suite of Resources To Help Food Industry Address U.S. FDA Requirements
GS1 US has published a new suite of resources to help companies address the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act Traceability Rule (FSMA Rule 204). The documents are designed to help trading partners understand how they can use GS1 Standards to meet the stringent recordkeeping requirements for "high-risk" foods.
FSMA Rule 204 requires companies that physically handle certain foods across the supply chain to keep and sometimes share additional records that can assist in faster recalls and tracebacks during an investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak. These requirements apply to entities that manufacture, process, pack or hold foods listed in the FDA's Food Traceability List (FTL). The Final Rule outlines specific Key Data Elements (KDEs) of Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) that need to be recorded and shared with the FDA within 24 hours upon request and at minimum, through a sortable electronic spreadsheet.