Having a recall plan will be a legal requirement in the US – 04/08/09

This Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act known as the US Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (H. R. 2749) was passed by the House on 30 July 2009 which would impose a host of new requirements on the food industry including a requirement to have a product recall plan. Click here for more details.

Several of the key requirements are listed below:

Requires food facilities to have a food safety plan, including a recall plan and a food defence (food security) plan.
FDA receives mandatory recall authority.
Requires most food facilities to pay an annual registration fee of $500 to help fund inspections (small farms, retail, etc exempt).
Enforces the reportable food registry, requiring companies to report if they know or have reason to believe the food they distributed in commerce has a reasonable probability to cause adverse health consequences or death (equivalent to Class I recalls).
Requires electronic traceability in a form / system provided for by the Secretary (of DHHS which oversees FDA) that allows traceability to be completed in 2 business days.

There are several more hurdles for this to pass before it comes into law and it now goes to the Senate for a vote.

To see the full text, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc111/h2749_eh.xml