Stoel Rives attorney Ken Odza discussed in Food Chemical News the impact of the recently passed Food Safety Modernization Act. The legislation gives the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") significant new authority in the inspection of food grown, processed and produced in the United States, as well as in the inspection of food products imported into the country.
Odza said that small and medium-sized food processors will likely bear the brunt of front-end compliance costs. According to Odza, most large food manufacturers are already comfortable with following HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices, in contrast to smaller-scaled producers who will now have to figure out how to comply with new hazard analysis and risk-based prevention controls.
"FDA: Funding issues likely to dog FDA's food safety reforms" was published by Food Chemical News, January 7, 2011.