The Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act: Focus on Strategic Implementation of Prevention-Oriented Import Safety Programs; Public Meetings

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing three one-day public meetings in different regions throughout the United States to provide importers and other interested persons an opportunity to have an in-depth discussion on the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) import safety programs (i.e., foreign supplier verification programs (FSVPs) for importers of food for humans and animals, accreditation of third-party certification bodies, and FDA's Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP)). During these meetings, participants and key FDA subject matter experts will discuss the next phase of FSMA implementation related to import safety programs, which includes establishing the operational framework for these programs and plans for guidance documents, training, education, and technical assistance. The purpose of the regional outreach public meetings is to continue the dialogue with the importer community on FSMA and elicit ideas that will help to inform FDA and our stakeholders on how to continue to work together to successfully comply with FSMA mandates and regulations.