FMI Comments on FDA’s Proposed Rule Extending the Compliance Date for the Food Traceability Rule

Arlington, VA - FMI - The Food Industry Association submitted comments on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed rule that would extend the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule until July 2028 and encouraged the agency to adopt changes to the rule to ensure efficient implementation. FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher offered the following statement.

"FMI is grateful for FDA's recognition of the need to reduce the regulatory burden on the food industry by extending the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule. We also strongly believe FDA should adjust certain aspects of the rule to provide adequate flexibility for the industry to be able to comply with the rule without unnecessarily straining the supply chain and increasing food prices for consumers.

"We fully support efforts to improve traceability and have been working diligently to do so, but we must ensure that we are working toward an achievable goal with all stakeholders engaged and that FDA can use the information required by the regulation to improve food safety without driving up costs.

"We thank the Trump administration for taking steps to provide more time for problem solving, technological innovation and collaboration to help make compliance achievable for industry while improving food safety and public health for consumers. We look forward to continuing to work with FDA to ensure that the rule reflects the goals of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act and that food companies of all sizes are able to comply with the requirements under the rule while ensuring that the United States maintains the safest, most abundant food system in the world."