Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
Produce Safety Rule (PSR)
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate food from farm to fork, which enables the FDA to better protect the public by strengthening the food safety system. FSMA was signed into law on January 4, 2011 and represents the nation’s largest overhaul of the federal food safety laws since 1938. The goal is to prevent foodborne outbreaks before they occur by taking proactive measures and shifting from a reactionary approach to a proactive approach. FSMA has created seven (7) new federal rules that address produce, human food, animal food, transportation, and imported food. The Produce Safety Rule is the only rule regulated by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). Information on the additional six federal rules can be found below or on FDA's website.
The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.
The Produce Safety Rule includes six key requirements:
- Agricultural Water
- Biological Soil Amendments
- Sprouts
- Domesticated and Wild Animals
- Worker Training and Health and Hygiene
- Equipment, Tools and Buildings
The ISDA, through an FDA grant, has been working to understand the scope of produce grown in Idaho that is covered by the Produce Safety Rule. The goal of this grant is to implement an integrated food-safety program that will prevent or significantly reduce the likelihood of a foodborne illness through standardized and consistent implementation of the Produce Safety Rule.
The ISDA and grant partner, University of Idaho(UI) Extension, are working together to provide outreach, education, and technical assistance to the produce industry to help them comply with the Produce Safety Rule.
ISDA formed a FSMA advisory committee in 2015 to help provide leadership and guidance to Idaho agencies on the implementation of the FSMA rules. Members include legislators and representatives from each sector of the agriculture industry and businesses that may be affected by FSMA. This committee is essential to the implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in Idaho.
UI Extension, in partnership with ISDA, is working to meet the education and outreach needs of the Idaho produce industry. Funding through this collaboration has enabled Extension to hire an Extension Educator to deliver FDA approved Produce Safety Alliance courses at a significantly reduced cost and conduct voluntary on-farm readiness reviews with farm operations prior to inspection.
We encourage you to access UI Extension’s FSMA Produce Safety website: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/produce-safety, which features the self-guided, anonymous decision tool for determining likely compliance or exemption status. On UI’s website you can also find recordings of annual webinars that are held each year and based on subjects identified by Idaho stakeholders or needs identified through inspections.
ISDA Produce Safety Division Contact Information
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Produce Safety Division is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Please contact ISDA for assistance with regulations, compliance, outreach, and education.
Food Safety, Hemp and Hops Bureau Chief: Casey Monn (208) 332-8698
Produce Safety Program Manager: Vacant
Agriculture Investigator, Senior: Annie Senn (208)332-8557
Agriculture Investigator, Senior: Vacant
Physical Address: 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712
Mailing Address: PO Box 7249, Boise, ID 83707
Phone Number: (208) 332-8502
Fax Number: (208) 334-2170
University of Idaho (UI) Extension
Please contact UI Extension for assistance with education, training, and technical assistance.
Area Extension Educator: Ariel Agenbroad (208) 287-5900
Address: 5880 Glenwood St., Boise, ID 83714
Fax: (208) 287-5909