As previously discussed on this blog here, FDA announced a proposed rule that would establish additional traceability requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold certain high risk foods designated in a new “Food Traceability List” (FTL) that was published along with the proposed rule on September 21, 2020.  The proposed requirements would apply to foods listed on the FTL, including certain cheeses, shell eggs, nut butter, various fruits and vegetables, finfish, Crustaceans, Mollusks (bivalves), and ready-to-eat deli salads, as well as foods containing FTL foods.  The first of three public meetings on the proposed new traceability rule was held on November 6, 2020.  Dates for the remaining two meetings are November 18, 2020 and December 2, 2020.  (See details here.)

On November 5, 2020, to assist stakeholders in understanding the proposed new traceability requirements, FDA announced the availability of additional  resources as follows:

• A tool for exploring the methods and criteria that FDA used to score commodity-hazard pairs, and the results that were used to determine which foods to include on the FTL;
• A pre-recorded webinar by Frank Yiannas, FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, and Angela Fields, a traceability subject matter expert, discussing the benefits of the proposed rule, who would be subject to the rule, what the proposed key requirements are, exemptions and more;
• A “who is subject to the rule?” flowchart; and
• A key terms glossary.