Does Your Farm Fall Under FSMA? New Video Series Provides Answers

View this new 4-part video series to help you understand how your farm or food business may be affected under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is helping produce growers, food processors, and feed manufacturers prepare for new regulatory standards required under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011. Recently the Penn State Food Safety Modernization Act website was launched. One of the first resources on this site is a series of four videos that are designed to help Pennsylvania farmers and food business operators understand which produce crops and food products are covered by FSMA, and what, if any exemptions are possible under the regulation.

Each video focuses on one key question, as their titles suggest:

• Video 1: What is the Food Safety Modernization Act?
• Video 2: Which Rule Covers My Produce or Human Food Products?
• Video 3: Do I Qualify for an Exemption to the Produce Safety or Preventative Controls for Human Foods Rule?
• Video 4: How Long Do I Have to Comply with the Produce Safety and Preventative Controls for Human Foods Rule?

These videos were developed by Dr. Luke LaBorde, Associate Professor of Food Science. More materials will be added to the site on the animal feed rule, as well as more detailed information on the actual requirements under each of the FSMA regulations.

Penn State Extension has taken the lead on these efforts by forming a cross-discipline team of faculty, staff and state-wide Extension educators with expertise in the areas of feed and food safety. Utilizing insights from impacted stakeholders, the team’s goal is to deliver training and other educational resources that will help Pennsylvania’s food and agricultural industry comply, creating a safer food system in the Commonwealth.

Source: psu.edu