The Food and Drug Administration says it will delay the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule, known as FSMA 204, by 30 months. The agency said it will use appropriate procedures at a later time to extend this compliance date and will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register.
The FDA says it is committed to a successful implementation of the full requirements of this rule, which will allow for faster identification and removal of potentially contaminated food from the market.
“The compliance date extension does not amend, nor do we intend to amend, the requirements of the final rule, which will improve food safety and protect public health,” the agency said in a news release.
The extension gives covered entitles — which includes cucumbers, fresh-cut leafy greens, fresh leafy greens, tomatoes, tropical tree fruits, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat salads and more — more time to ensure complete coordination across the supply chain.
FSMA 204 establishes additional traceability record-keeping requirements for entities that grow, process, pack or hold foods on this list. The FDA says this requires a higher degree of coordination between members of the fresh produce and food industry.
To achieve the full public health benefits of the final rule, all covered entities must be in compliance, the agency says.
“Even those few entities who are well positioned to meet the final rule’s requirements by January 2026 have expressed concern about the timeline, in part because of their reliance on receiving accurate data from their supply chain partners, who are not similarly situated,” the FDA said in the release. “Therefore, FDA intends to allow industry additional time, across all regulated sectors, to fully implement the final rule’s requirements.”
The agency said it will continue to work with stakeholders to identify solutions to implementation challenges during this 30-month delay.
by The Packer Staff, Mar 21, 2025