Food Safety Modernization Act--it's Coming!

FDA resolves deadlines for FSMA final rules through settlement

This article posted on FMI Daily Lead brings some clarity to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) enforcement--now delayed until August 2015.  Industry will still be required to respond to the requirements, but are given a reprieve on the immediate implementation.

Invensys has continually educated the food and beverage industry to prepare them for the FSMA.  These webinars are archived, and are a great source of reference: http://www.real-time-answers.com/food-beverage/.

Repost, with comments: where have all the food plants gone?

http://www.foodprocessing.com/blogs/thescoop/where-have-all-the-food-plants-gone/

This article from Food Processing.com brings up an interesting point: how did we lose count of 40,000 plants in one year?  Could companies be that adverse to reporting that they'd simply "forget" to add themselves to the FDA's registry?

It's hard to understand how the requirements for food safety can be ignored by these entities.  Certainly, those firms that are under 500 employees will bear some hardship for implementing controls and systems to reduce and limit the effects of quality breaches. But isn't that for the public good (and their own brand management) that they'd want to have a system that allows them to track, trace and ensure compliance?

We at Wonderware spent a lot of time last year educating the market on the need for compliance, and the impact that the FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) would have on manufacturing companies.  If you are interested in accessing that material, please visit: http://www.real-time-answers.com/food-beverage/

Repost, with Comments: Number of Trade Regulations to Take Effect in 2014

<p><a href="http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2013/food-safety-trade-regulations/"><b>Unprecedented Number of Trade Regulations To Take Effect in 2014 </b></a><br>Matt Goodman, Livingston International<br>Prepare your company for an onslaught of new trade regulations, many of which center around food import quality and safety.</p>

Food Safety Modernization Act, Trade Acts, Compliance--how can a food manufacturer keep up with all of the regulations?  The rate of change that is hitting the food and beverage industry--from consolidations, acquisitions, to changing customer tastes, to government oversight--collectively challenge both the large and small processors.  It is one thing to purchase technology, but having the foresight and knowledge to adequately implement, and plan for the future, that's where a company needs assistance.