Summary: Accreditation of Third-Party Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits and to Issue Certifications (Final Rule)
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) final rule on Accreditation of Third-Party Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits and to Issue Certifications establishes a voluntary program for the accreditation of third-party certification bodies to conduct food safety audits and to issue certifications of foreign facilities and the foods for humans and animals they produce. These requirements will help ensure the competence and independence of the accreditation bodies and third-party certification bodies participating in the program. These certifications will be required for participation in FDA’s voluntary qualified importer program (VQIP). In addition, when the Agency has determined that an imported food is subject to certification under FSMA, the Agency may require a certification under this rule as a condition for admitting the food in the United States.
Regulatory Impact Analysis:
Docket: FDA-2011-N-0146--]){kind=small}