Taken from the September 29, 2023 National Grain and Feed Association Newsletter
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sept. 29 conducted a listening session to solicit information and feedback on how FDA might modernize its recall policies.
FDA currently provides guidance to industry within 21 Code of Federal Regulations 7 on how to effectively recall FDA-regulated products, including human and animal food, from the market. This guidance includes information on health hazard evaluations and recall classifications, contacting and notifying customers, issuing press releases, disposition of affected product, and assessing recall effectiveness.
While most recalls are voluntarily initiated by the firm that distributed the product, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 granted FDA new authority to mandate that a regulated firm recall products if the firm fails to voluntarily do so.
In addition, FDA has finalized guidance regarding its authority to mandate recalls. To date, FDA has used its mandatory recall authority in only three instances. In addition to receiving public comments during the listening session, FDA has established a docket to which written comments may be submitted until Oct. 27.
By David Fairfield, senior vice pPresident, Feed