The US Food and Drug Administration has introduced two new regulations to tighten food safety, its first move since the Food Safety Modernisation Act extended the agency’s powers.
Under the new rules, the FDA will have the power to detain food for 30 days that it suspects is contaminated or mislabeled. During this time, the agency will assess whether further action is appropriate.
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Previously, the FDA was only able to act if there was evidence of serious harm or the possibility of fatalities. The agency had to work under the legal authority of US states to negotiate recalls with food companies.
“This authority strengthens significantly the FDA’s ability to keep potentially harmful food from reaching US.consumers,” said FDA deputy commissioner for foods Mike Taylor yesterday (4 May). “It is a prime example of how the new food safety law allows FDA to build prevention into our food safety system.”
The second rule requires anyone who imports food or animal feed into the US to disclose whether another country has already rejected or refused entry to the same product.
Both regulations will come into effect on 3 July, the FDA said.
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