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November 2, 2005
The FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has published in the Federal Register "Guidance for Industry: A Notice from the Food and Drug Administration to Growers, Food Manufacturers, Food Warehouse Managers, and Transporters of Food Products on Decontamination of Transport Vehicles," which is intended to provide information and references that can be used for the decontamination of food transport vehicles following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September 2005. The scope of this guidance is limited to decontamination of trucks, rail cars, and cold storage units that were flooded or otherwise impacted by the hurricanes, before being placed back in service to transport or store food. The guidance is effective as of the date of publication in the Federal Register.
This guidance is avalable online. A paper copy of the guidance is available by sending a self-addressed mailing label to the Division of Plant Product Safety (HFS-305), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20747. FDA will accept public comments on the guidance until November 1, 2006. Questions may be directed to Michael Kashtock (FDA/CFSAN) at 301-436-2022; e-mail: . The official Federal Register notice is posted online.
On November 2, 2005 FDA's Food Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Modernization Working Group issued a report titled Food CGMP Modernization - A Focus on Food Safety. The report concludes there is a need for modernizing FDA's food CGMPs (found in 21 CFR Part 110) because of significant changes within the food industry and in the current science of food production and safety.
Starting in 2002, the Working Group looked at current food production systems to determine where risk based GMP-type preventive controls could have the greatest impact on assuring food safety. With more than 2 years of effort, the working group presented its preliminary findings at three public meetings and requested public comments on specific food CGMP modernization.
After considering the data and public comments, the Working Group identified seven areas where modernization of the CGMPs would significantly improve the safety of food by better focusing industry production controls efforts and FDA oversight resources on certain food safety risks. The seven areas that offer opportunities for modernization are: 1) training, 2) food allergens, 3) Listeria monocytogenes control, 4) sanitation procedures, 5) application of certain CGMPs to agricultural operations, 6) records access, and 7) temperature control. The report can be found at Food CGMP Modernization - A Focus On Food Safety. Before proceeding with CGMP modernization, FDA is seeking further comments from stakeholders. Submit your comments to Docket # 2004N-0230 by March 6, 2006.
