The FDA has recently published a set of new frequently asked questions (FAQs) and additional tools to assist the industry in understanding and complying with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Food Traceability Rule.
The primary objective of the Food Traceability Rule is to streamline the identification and swift removal of potentially contaminated food products from the market, thereby reducing the incidence of foodborne illnesses and fatalities. The rule mandates that specific foods listed in the Food Traceability List (FTL) adhere to its requirements.
The latest FAQs address industry-specific inquiries, aiming to provide clarity on how the rule applies to various scenarios. The questions are based on the FDA’s interactions with the industry and those submitted through the Technical Assistance Network, a centralized resource for information related to FSMA rules, programs, and implementation strategies.
Accompanying the FAQs, the FDA has developed additional tools to enhance education and awareness among the entities subject to the Food Traceability Rule. These resources are available on the FDA’s traceability website and include the following:
- Expanded results of the Risk-Ranking Model for Food Tracing, encompassing all foods and their associated commodity-hazard pairs, going beyond what is listed on the food traceability list.
- Enhanced description on the Food Traceability List webpage, clarifying that “nut butters” include all forms—shelf-stable, refrigerated, and frozen.
- Introduction of eight new supply chain examples that demonstrate how the rule is implemented in different scenarios for various commodities.
- Fact sheets covering essential information about the Food Traceability Rule, such as recordkeeping details for produce farms, coverage and exemptions for produce farms, and a guide on getting started with the rule.
- Additional translations of the Critical Tracking Event and Key Data Elements interactive tool and supply chain examples in foreign languages. The compliance deadline for all entities affected by the Food Traceability Rule is January 20, 2026.
This rule stands as a significant component of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint and enforces Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
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