Regulations
Food safety regulations, in particular the FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act), play a vital role in ensuring the safety and quality of food consumed by both humans and animals. Meeting food safety regulations is a fundamental requirement for all operators in the food industry. Resources are available to help you meet the standards and get the training and certifications needed.
Food Safety Modernization Act Rules and Regulations
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2011. It helped transform the US food safety systems by focusing on prevention rather than response to food-borne illness. It plays a foundational role in the way foods are grown, harvested, and processed.
To help producers prepare for FSMA standards, Penn State Extension has a range of resources, in both Spanish and English, provided by experts in the areas of feed and food safety.
Preventive Controls for Human Food
The Preventative Controls Rule of the FSMA regulations focuses on prevention of food-borne illness. It requires all human food processing facilities to have a Qualified Preventive Control individual who is ultimately responsible for developing and implementing Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Foods.
Any training provided for employees involved in developing and implementing HACCP systems, as part of the FSMA regulations, has to meet FDA requirements for Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals. Penn State Extension provides training on how to meet these requirements in its Preventive Controls for Human Foods Certification Workshop.
Preventive Controls for Animal Food
FSMA regulations apply not just to human food but to animal food too. Facilities processing food for animals also must have a written food safety plan, prepared by Qualified Preventive Control Individuals.
A food safety system established and implemented by manufacturers and processors of animal feed has to be developed by industry professionals with FDA approved credentials. If you have someone in your organization about to take on the role, Preventive Controls for Animal Food Workshop meets FDA requirements.
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)
The Food Safety Modernization Act covers not only US produce, but food that may have been imported from other countries. The aim is for imported foods to meet the same safety standards as those grown or processed on US soil.
Several regulations cover FDA regulated foods that are grown, manufactured, or processed outside the US. They include the Product Safety Rule, the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule, and the Preventive Controls for Animal Foods Rule.
The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) Rule also plays an important part in the process. Importers are required to verify food imports have been produced in accordance with applicable US safety standards. FDA credentials are required for anyone involved in the development and implementation of the FSVP. A Foreign Supplier Verification Workshop is another resource that’s available in this section.
Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food
Food safety is crucial throughout the supply chain, and the FDA has made the Sanitary Transportation Rules to prevent food safety risks when human and animal food is being transported. Anyone working in the food transportation industry, such as shippers, carriers, loaders, and receivers, should understand the regulations, be able to recognize hazards, follow basic safety procedures, and be able to implement best practices. The Sanitary Transport of Human and Animal Food online course meets FDA training requirements.
Food Defense
The FSMA is made up of several rules that have the ultimate goal of improving food safety in the US. One of the more recent additions to the set of rules is the FDA rule Mitigation Strategies to Protect Against Intentional Adulteration or IA rule. It applies to food companies that are involved in the production, transport, storage, or distribution of food for sale to the public.
The aim of the rule is for food companies with more than $10,000,000 in annual sales to establish control measures to prevent or minimize intentional contamination of food. In order to meet this aim, companies have to develop a Food Defense Plan that assesses operations for vulnerable points and then develops and implements mitigation strategies.
- Articles
FSMA Produce Safety and Preventive Controls Regulations: How Do They Apply?
This article reviews the basics for Produce Safety and Preventive Controls and provides some information on how they may affect the mushroom industry. - Workshops
Commercial Canning of Acid and Acidified Foods
Length 8 hoursAttend our one-day workshop for smaller-scale commercial processors. Learn key safety and quality practices for shelf-stable products. Perfect for processors, entrepreneurs, growers, and educators! - Workshops
Preventive Controls for Human Foods Certification Workshop in Spanish
Length 2.5 daysThis workshop provides certification to meet FDA requirements for the development and implementation of HACCP-based systems as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations. - Workshops
$600.00
Preventive Controls for Human Foods Certification Workshop
When 01/08/2025Length 2.5 daysEvent Format In-PersonThis workshop provides certification to meet FDA requirements for the development and implementation of HACCP based systems as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations. - Articles
Food for Profit: Registering Your Business
All businesses need to comply with local, state, and federal registration procedures in order to legally operate. Food-processing businesses are no exception. - Articles
Food for Profit: Food Labels
Food label regulations dictate the type of information that must be on the label and where it can be placed on the package. - Articles
Understanding FSMA: HACCP, HARPC and the Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule
The evolution of the original Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles towards Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) is discussed and requirements within the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulation are summarized. - Workshops
Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls Workshop for Small-Scale Dairy Processors
This one-day workshop provides resources and hands-on experience in preparing documents for a food safety plan. - Articles
State and Federal Regulations for Food Processors
Regulations vary from state to state. Here we provide resources from Pennsylvania and Federal sources. Check with your state Department of Agriculture or local Health Department to determine which regulations you need to follow. - Webinars
Free
Why Do Environmental Monitoring in Your Facility?
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Apr 11, 2023Event Format On-Demand | RecordedJoin this webinar to discuss environmental monitoring in dairy processing facilities and the best practices for sanitation, cleaning, and biological hazards. - Articles
The Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food Rule
This rule establishes requirements for shippers, loaders, carriers by motor or rail vehicle, and receivers involved in transporting human and animal food. - Articles
FSMA Final Rule on Preventive Controls for Animal Food
Learn more about the Preventive Controls for Animal Food Rule which requires covered facilities to implement a food safety system. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: Visitors
Learn how the produce safety rule requires you to make visitors aware of your farm's food safety policies and procedures. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: Training Requirements
Learn about required food safety education, training, and experience necessary for personnel to perform their assigned duties. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: The Zone Concept
Learn about what the Zone Concept means and what equipment inspection, maintenance, cleaning, and sanitizing procedures are required under the Produce Safety Rule to protect against food contamination. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: Handwashing
Learn more about when you should wash your hands and why hand washing is the most important food safety practice. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: Pest Management
The Produce Safety Rule requires that companies routinely monitor for pests, as they represent an important risk to food safety. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: Soil Amendments
Learn about what biological soil amendments as defined under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the risks they may pose to produce as it being grown. - Articles
Food Safety Modernization Act: Personal Hygiene
The Produce Safety Rule requires certain personal hygiene practices to prevent the spread of microbes onto food in growing and packing environments. - Articles
Developing a Food Defense Plan
Learn how to meet compliance requirements in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rule on preventing intentional contamination. - Articles
Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food
Part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the goal of the Sanitary Transportation rule is to prevent practices during transportation that create food safety risks. - Videos
Programas de verificación de proveedores extranjeros para importadores de alimentos para consumo humano y consumo animal
Length 4:05En este video aprenderá sobre el programa de verificación de proveedores extranjeros (FSVP, por sus siglas en inglés) y le ayudará a determinar si está sujeto a las normas y regulaciones del FSVP. - Videos
¿Quién está sujeto a la norma de controles preventivos para alimentos para el consumo humano?
Length 2:46En este video, aprenderá quién está cubierto bajo la norma de controles preventivos para alimentos para el consumo humano. - Videos
¿Qué es FSMA?
Length 4:12Este video es un resumen de la Ley de Modernización de la Inocuidad de los Alimentos (FSMA, por sus siglas en inglés). - Videos
Plan de inocuidad de los alimentos
Length 2:48Conozca qué es un plan de inocuidad de los alimentos y quién requiere tener un plan.