How FSMA affects almond farmers.
In the biggest reform of food safety laws in recent history, congress enacted the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which went into effect on September 2016 for large operations. Almond processors and some huller/shellers are covered by Preventive Controls (PC) for human food. Covered operations must establish and implement a food safety system that includes an analysis of hazards and implementation of risk-based preventive controls.
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was enacted to prevent foodborne illness, which affects approximately 48 million people in the U.S. per year (1 in 6), of which approximately 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year. Many of these illnesses are preventable, which is where these new preventive practices come in.
Depending on the nature of your operations, additional FSMA rules may apply to you, such as preventive controls for animal food, sanitary transportation of human and animal food, Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for importers of food for humans and animals and intentional adulteration.
