Foreign Supplier Verification Program Training
By: Carl Moody
The Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule was published on November 27th, 2015 as part of the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Along with the Produce Safety rule and the Preventive Controls for Human and Animal Food rules, the FSVP rule aims to ensure the safety of the food supply. The Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule requires importers to develop and implement programs which verify that their foreign suppliers are producing food in a manner which complies with the appropriate Preventive Controls or Produce Safety regulations and are providing the same level of public health protection as products produced from within the United States. Importers are also required to ensure that the supplier’s food is compliant with the appropriate allergen labeling requirements and take corrective actions when necessary.
The staged compliance dates for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs requirements began on May 30, 2017. While importers of products from processors who meet specific employee counts or $ sales requirements will not need to be compliant until March 19th of 2018, the time to prepare for that compliance date is now.
On September 27th and 28th the Cornell Dairy Foods Extension and the Cornell Institute for Food Safety are delivering the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs course based on the FDA-approved Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance curriculum at Stocking Hall in Ithaca, NY.
This course is intended for both importers of food and others who want to understand the FSVP rule and its’ requirements. During the course you will develop knowledge and understanding of the following:
- The underlying purpose of the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule
- How to develop an FSVP
- How to implement your FSVP
- How to implement a recordkeeping system
- How FDA will oversee your FSVP
This course will provide participants with the knowledge to implement the requirements of the “Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals” regulation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This course is targeted toward individuals who are U.S.-based importers who meet the definition of “importer” in the FSVP rule. This includes those who own or are the consignee of food at the time of entry, or the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner. In addition, others who have an interest in ensuring that the requirements of the FSVP rule are met are encourage to attend. This includes brokers, exporters, and foreign suppliers of food that will be exported to the U.S., or persons/business owners who currently buy food from foreign sources, and representatives of foreign governments.
For additional information and to register visit: https://dairyextension.foodscience.cornell.edu/content/foreign-supplier-verification-program-workshop-sept-27-28-2017
