Closer scrutiny of US food imports promised

The Act, which was inspired by various serious internal food safety breaches in the US over recent years such as the salmonella incident at the Peanut Corporation of America, is the most significant piece of US food safety legislation for 70 years.

Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), told the Global Food Safety Conference in London recently that it represented “really sweeping food safety reform regulation​”, in moving to a risk-based approach to inspection. “Accredited third-party certification will play a crucial role​,” said Taylor. “The critical issue is to ensure importers ensure their suppliers have the systems in place to ensure safe food​.”

Years behind Europe​

Stefano Crea, food sector manager for certification body Det Norske Veritas (DNV), said: “The only thing which is pretty clear is FDA needs to improve food safety in the US, because it is definitely years behind Europe and they will not have many years to bridge this gap​.”

The Act covers about 80% of all food consumed within the US, with the exception of meat and poultry, which is regulated separately by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). It has been welcomed by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which is already working in conjunction with suppliers in the 21 countries covered by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group to improve food safety standards. It plans to expand the work into Africa and Latin America.

GMA president Pamela Bailey said: “Yes, government has a role to play, but we also have a significant role to play as the private sector​.”
While the FDA is having “robust dialogue​” with the Global Food Safety Initiative about the use of third-party certification schemes to manage food safety controls on imports into the US, it is not yet clear whether the FDA will still require its own inspections and laboratory analysis of foodstuffs from suppliers plants.

New paradigm​
Therefore the full implications and potential costs involved to suppliers of the new law will only emerge over the next couple of years. “We know we can do better and we must do better​,” said Taylor. “[The Act] establishes a new paradigm for the FDA’s regulation of imported food​.”

However, Taylor acknowledged: “It will take years for this new system to take root.”​ But he added food importers would have to assure the FDA that “imported food meets the same standards as domestic food​”.

Taylor said: “Congress has directed the FDA to do more food inspections in foreign countries … Our role is both straightforward and Herculean​.”

This article was published originally by our sister title Food Manufacture.