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FDA proposes rules to improve safety of imported food

To carry out a 2011 food safety law, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing two rules to help ensure that imported food meets the same safety standards as food produced in the United States.

Fruits and vegetablesUnder the proposed rules, importers would be accountable for verifying that their foreign suppliers are using modern, prevention-oriented food safety practices and achieving the same level of food safety as U.S. growers and processors.

The FDA is also proposing rules to strengthen foreign food safety audits on which many food companies and importers rely to help manage the safety of food from throughout the world.

 Eighty percent of our seafood, 60 percent of our produce, almost all of our spices, and even some pet food ingredients come from other countries,” said Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director, Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The long-delayed announcement that the FDA is moving forward on regulations to increase the safety of imported foods is good news and, if finalized, will lead to safer foods, said Smith Dewaal.

The deadline for consumers to comment on the proposed rules is Nov. 26. 

The two proposals work together with the rules proposed in January for produce safety and preventive controls in facilities that produce human food, said Michael R. Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.  

For more information, see:

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

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