FDA Updates Food|Safety Regulations

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Food and Drug Administration has updated its requirements for food factories.

The Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2011 requires facilities that make, process, pack, or hold food to submit registration information to the FDA.

Among other things, the Act requires the facilities allow the FDA to inspect them.

Food facilities are also required to renew their FDA registration every other year and provide the FDA with authority to suspend their registration in certain circumstances.

If the FDA determines there is a reasonable probability that food at a registered facility could cause serious illness or death in humans or animals, it can suspend the facility.

The FDA has prepared a guideline, "What You Need To Know About Registration of Food Facilities."

The document carries out provisions of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act.

That Act, of 2003, sets guidelines to help prevent terrorist attacks on food supplies, and other food emergencies.

The updated regulations do not apply to farms, restaurants or retail food establishments.

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