September 30, 2011, by Slade Gorton
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) effective October 1st
Hope all Importers and Foreign Exporters are aware that starting tomorrow, October 1st, the FDA has been authorized to start charging for various activities that have been free in the past. This new law called the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed by President Obama back in January, will allow the FDA to charge an hourly rate for certain types of inspections, document reviews and foreign plant visits. From $224 per hour for certain domestic activities to as high as $325 per hour for foreign inspections of processing plants and products.
The full text of the law and related information about its implementation are available on the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/default.htm
