Food Safety Modernization Act Becomes Law

The legislation significantly enhances the FDA’s ability to oversee the millions of food products coming into the United States from other countries each year.

Among the improvements is the requirement that importers verify the safety of food from their suppliers, and the authority for the FDA to block foods from facilities or countries that refuse our inspection.  The FDA will also be working more closely with foreign governments and increasing its inspection of foreign food facilities.  The FDA’s new import tool kit will have a huge impact on food safety, given that an estimated 15 percent of the U.S. food supply is imported, including 60 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables and 80 percent of seafood.

This law represents a change for food safety in America, bringing a new focus on prevention, and it is expected that in the coming years, it will have a dramatic and positive effect on the safety of the food supply.

TechLink International can assist you in bringing new food and dietary ingredients/products to market and to assure that they are grown, processed/manufactured, labeled, stored, distributed and/or offered for sale in compliance with the established regulations.

TechLink International offers a full range of food and food ingredient consulting, submission, and auditing services, including:

• Reviewing labels and advertising for compliance with regulations.
• Determining the safety of food ingredients and preparing food additive petitions, GRAS reviews and notifications, food contact substance notifications, and risk assessments.
• Designing clinical studies to substantiate label claims.
• Preparing petitions for FDA approval of conventional and qualified health claims for food and new dietary ingredients.
• Serving as expert witnesses and providing testimony on litigation involving disputes over regulatory food matters.
• Providing technical assistance to acidified and low-acid canned food manufacturers, and assisting in registering their facilities and processes with the FDA.
• Interpretation of rulings and policies of the FDA, USDA, EPA, and other agencies as they relate to products or practices.
• Registering foreign food facilities with the FDA and serving as the U.S. agent for the registered firm.
• Providing guidance on import procedures and assisting in obtaining clearance of products through U.S. Customs and the FDA at the time of entry.
• Assisting firms in implementing food security measures to prepare for deliberate acts of terrorism.
• Providing recall advice and assistance as needed.
• Conducting warehouse sanitation and GAP, GMP, and HACCP audits.

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