The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is making it easier to find answers about the new FDA Facility Registration that begins on October 1st and ends on December 31st. FDA notes all domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for human or animal consumption in the U.S. are mandated to register as food facilities with FDA. Even those with facilities that are already registered must renew their registrations during the October 1 to December 31 time period of each even-numbered year. Some farms may fall under this requirement. If done on the same day as harvesting – on-farm washing, trimming off outer leaves and cooling produce are considered part of harvesting and would not require classification as a facility. If the harvest is held in storage or warehouse – the farm is considered a facility. Additional information is available on the FDA website. Just click on the Food tab and then follow the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act link and look for the registration link.
Source: NAFB News Service