FDA Cancels Educational Seminar about Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in Miami, Florida

It should be no surprise that because of the Federal Government's "shutdown", the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled its planned October 10-11, 2013 educational seminars in Miami, Florida, about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The discussion between members of the international trade community in Florida who are interested in the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs and the Accreditation of Third-Party Auditors/Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits is important before the Final Rules of FSMA go into effect. The scheduled October 22-23, 2013 public meetings in Long Beach, California, are also (for now) cancelled.

The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) would establish requirements for importers to verify that their foreign suppliers are implementing the modern, prevention-oriented food safety practices called for by the FSMA. The Accreditation program is intended to strengthen the quality, objectivity, and transparency of foreign food safety audits on which many U.S. food companies and importers currently rely upon to help manage the safety of their global food supply chains.

Seems to me these are pretty important requirements to know about and share ideas.

The FDA website states:

With the closure of the U.S. federal government, we've been instructed to communicate to those registered for the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) public meeting on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)...that the meetings have been canceled.

For more information on FDA and U.S.Customs and Border Protection (CBP), please contact:

Peter Quinter, Esq.

Chair, Customs and International Trade Law Group

Shareholder, GrayRobinson, P.A.

1221 Brickell Avenue, 16th Floor

Miami, Florida 33131

Direct: (305) 416-6960
Mobile (954) 270-1864

peter.quinter@gray-robinson.com