FDA Announces Training Alliance on Food Facility Preventive Controls Rules
The Food and Drug Administration announced on December 21, 2011 the creation of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) to develop training and guidelines for industry on the upcoming hazard analysis and preventive controls requirements for food and feed facilities, which are mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act.
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Plans to Issue Preventive Controls Proposed Rules in Early 2012
FDA says that it expects to issue proposed rules on facility hazard analysis and preventive controls during early 2012. Therefore, it has formed the alliance together with the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health (ITT IFSH) to help industry, particularly small and medium-size firms, prepare for the upcoming requirements.
Alliance Will Develop Training, Materials, Commodity-Specific Guidelines, Etc.
According to FDA, the Alliance will:
- develop standardized hazard analysis and preventive controls training and distance education modules for food industry and regulatory personnel;
- design and deliver a state-of-the-art distance learning training portal at the IIT IFSH Moffett Campus in Bedford Park, Ill.;
- develop “train-the-trainer” materials and student education delivery systems
- create a technical assistance network for small- and medium-sized food companies;
- develop commodity/industry sector-specific guidelines for preventive controls;
- assess knowledge gaps and research needs for further enhancement of preventive control measures; and
- identify and prioritize the need for, and compile, critical limits for widely used preventive controls.
(See ITT’s Online Archives 11110215 for summary of FDA reopening the comment period on preventive controls for facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food or /feed, for use in the development of FDA’s rulemakings.
See ITT's Online Archives 11101237 for summary of FDA adding information on facility preventive controls to its FAQ on the FSMA.)