Food Defense Update: July 20, 2020

FDA intends to begin routine inspections of Small Businesses under the FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule in March 2021

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that routine inspections of small businesses to verify compliance with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Intentional Adulteration (IA) rule will begin in March 2021. The compliance date for small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) is July 27, 2020. 

Recognizing the unique situation COVID-19 has created for both industry and regulators, the FDA intends to begin routine inspections of small businesses under the IA rule in March 2021. This approach, consistent with our approach regarding IA inspections of larger businesses, will help facilitate industry’s continuing efforts to put in place measures that will protect public health while allowing the FDA additional time to conduct outreach to stakeholders. 

For More Information

• Constituent Update: Inspections of Small Businesses under the FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule to Begin March 2021
• Protecting the Food Supply from Intentional Adulteration, Such as Acts of Terrorism
• Constituent Update: FDA Publishes Second Installment of Intentional Adulteration Draft Guidance
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration
• FSMA Final Rule on Intentional Adulteration
• Food Defense Plan Builder

Food Defense at FDA is the effort to protect food from acts of intentional adulteration. Learn more at https://www.fda.gov/food/food-defense