On January 4th, 2011 President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) which updates the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1938, as well as other regulations related to food safety published since then.

As a result, all US food manufacturing facilities registered with the FDA, as well as those in foreign countries which are exporting to the US, will have to update their food safety and food defense programs in order to meet new FSMA requirements.

The final regulations related to 1) Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls for Human Food and Animal Feed, 2) Food Defense, 3) Sanitary Transport, and 4) Domestic and Foreign Supplier Verification will be issued late 2015 and early 2016.

Most food firms will have about 12 months to prepare until the effective dates when the FDA will have the right to begin enforcing these regulations.

Who Should Attend?

US manufacturing and distribution facilities: managers and other key personnel responsible for food safety and food defense (e.g., procurement, manufacturing, sanitation, maintenance and quality assurance)

Importers: Importers of food products who will be held accountable for the compliance status of the imported products, as well as their foreign suppliers

Learning objectives

• Describe, understand, and apply the Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) methodology and criteria to assure effective controls are developed and established for known or reasonable foreseeable hazards.
• Identify and illustrate when product testing and environmental monitoring can be used as verification activities to demonstrate that preventive controls are effective in minimizing or preventing the occurrence of identified hazards.
• Explore and apply practical ways to update current HACCP plans and/or prerequisite program documentation to be in compliance with HARPC.
• Compare and understand how to update your food defense program to be in compliance with FSMA requirements.
• Explain, understand, and apply new sanitary transport measures promulgated under FSMA.
• Consider and understand intent and scope of the foreign supplier verification program, as well as ways to develop the program.
• Consider and understand intent and scope of domestic supplier verification measures contained in FSMA and assure current program meets such requirements.
• Review and assure understanding and capacity to comply with ancillary requirements, such as registration, inspections, records access, etc.

Prerequisites:

Familiarity and experience with food safety regulations, including FSMA rules will enhance learning experience and retention.

Assessment methods:

Exam