Comment Period for FSMA Provisions Extended

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced it would extend the public comment period for the information collection provisions associated with two proposed Food Safety Modernization Act rules by three months.

The agency had originally requested comment on those provisions by February 15 after posting the rules on the Federal Register on January 16, 2013.  The new deadline is May 16, 2013, which is also the deadline for comments on the proposed rules as a whole.  “FDA is taking the action of extending the deadline for the comment period in response to requests for that extension, in order to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments,” an agency media release read.  At least one of those requests referenced by the FDA was made by the United Fresh Produce Association earlier this week.  The two rules subject to comment cover preventive controls and produce safety standards.  More information from the FDA:  The public may submit either electronic or written comments by May 16, 2013, directly to OMB. OMB recommends that written comments be faxed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attn: FDA Desk Officer, FAX: 202-395-7285, or emailed to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. All comments should be identified with the title of the relevant proposed rule, either “Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” or “Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.”  For more information:  Federal Register Notice: Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food; Extension of Comment Period for Information Collection Provisions  Federal Register Notice: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption; Extension of Comment Period for Information Collection Provisions