November 30, 2020
Hello Produce Safety Alliance Listserv Members:
Are you gearing up to launch your 2021 PSA Grower Trainings? If so, take a look at the resources provided in this newsletter including the PSA team’s most recent PSA Trainer and Lead Trainer Refresher Series as well as educational materials now available with Spanish narration.
Take care and be well,
The PSA Team
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First PSA Trainer Refresher Series A Great Success! |
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Each Thursday in October and November, the PSA team hosted a refresher webinar for each of the 8 PSA Grower Training curriculum modules. This series was an opportunity for PSA Trainers and PSA Lead Trainers to refresh their knowledge of the PSA Grower Training curriculum in preparation for winter trainings, as well as to gather tips for delivering trainings remotely. A total of 524 webinar attendees were present for the live webinars. Each session was recorded and followed by an open question and answer session (not recorded). In case you were not able to attend or would like to review the presentations again, links to each of the recordings are provided below and also cataloged on our website under the corresponding module header.
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New Educational Resources |
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Short Videos Now Available with Spanish Narration!
This month, the PSA released three additional short animated videos on handwashing, biofilms, and the On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) with Spanish narration. These videos are great for use during PSA Grower Trainings to reinforce the curriculum content and provide a quick brain-break for participant engagement.
Check out the rest of the PSA videos available in English and Spanish on the our YouTube channel!
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NECAFS and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School (CAFS) recently worked together to research commonly asked FSMA Produce Safety Rule legal questions and create educational resources that provide clarity and understanding for farmers and food processors. This project, known as the Extension Legal Services Initiative, launched in 2018. The research team began by soliciting input from the produce community to identify and prioritize key legal research questions. Student clinicians at CAFS's Food and Agriculture Clinic conducted extensive legal research and interpreted their findings into educational resources that are accessible to a broad, non-legal audience.
The new resources include:
An interactive map illustrating the specifics of each U.S. State's Produce Safety Rule implementation;
- Using the FDA Technical Assistance Network and Freedom of Information Act to Access Information about FSMA;
- FSMA Supply Chain Program Requirements for Processors and their Produce Suppliers;
- Understanding the Relationship Between FDA Rules, Guidance, and Other Communications;
- Produce Farms, Foodborne Illness, and Legal Liability;
- Produce Safety Rule Inspections and Third-Party Audits;
- FSMA Produce Safety Rule Coverage and Exemptions for Farms with Multiple Business Entities; and
- Alternatives and Variances to the Produce Safety Rule.
Check out the new resources at https://elsi.necafs.org!
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Request for Information (RFI) in August 2020 to open a docket for data and information related to produce known to have no or low reported consumption. FDA plans to use the data and information to consider whether any of these produce commodities should be added to the “rarely consumed raw” (RCR) list and thereby exempt from the Produce Safety rule. The items currently on the exhaustive RCR list are not subject to the requirements in the Produce Safety rule.
The FDA extended the comment period for stakeholders to submit the requested information for an additional 60 days, through January 8, 2021. This extension is being made in response to requests from stakeholders who indicated that more time was needed in order to submit the relevant data.
The FDA invites those with data, information, and/or comments regarding U.S. consumption patterns of those commodities with no or low reported consumption to submit such information to the agency through the RFI docket.
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During the second public meeting to discuss the proposed rule entitled, “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods,” the FDA expressed their intent to extend the comment period for the information collection provisions that was set to close on November 23rd. FDA also is considering whether to provide any extension of the comment period for the proposed rule.
The Food Traceability Proposed Rule which published on September 23, 2020 included a 120-day comment period for the proposal and a 60-day comment period for the information collection provisions. After hearing concerns from several stakeholders that more time is needed to adequately review and analyze the information collection provisions with consideration to the entire proposed rule, the agency intends to formally announce an extension to the comment period for these provisions in a forthcoming notice in the Federal Register.
Some stakeholders also have asked the FDA to extend the comment period for the proposed rule, which is currently slated to close on January 21, 2021. Any extension of the proposed rule comment period would be announced through a notice in the Federal Register and issuance of a Constituent Update.
The FDA recently made available several supplemental resources to help stakeholders better understand the requirements outlined in the proposed rule.
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Work in or around produce safety? Rutgers has a new project that aims to know what produce safety concerns keep you up at night. In this anonymous online survey, you will be asked to rank your top five produce safety risk management areas that need improvement. The information collected will be used to guide Extension work nationally and the development of resources to help manage risks and comply with regulations.
The survey should take about ten minutes to complete and there is no direct benefit to you for completing this survey. Anyone involved in the produce industry who is at least 18 years of age may take this survey. Please click on the link below to take the survey.
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This survey was designed by researchers at Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University to understand how farmers market managers have altered their practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers hope to use the responses from this survey to help inform strategies to assist farmers markets across the United States during this time. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and your information will be kept confidential. This survey will take approximately 10 minutes. Please click on the link below to take the survey.
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Hawai’i Produce Safety Program Manager
The Hawai’i Department of Agricultural seeks a full-time applicant to serve as the statewide produce safety compliance program manager and subject matter expert on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). For more information and to apply, visit the Real Jobs Hawaii website.
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Extension State Specialist – Food Safety
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Agricultural Resources
This is a 100% Extension appointment at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. The successful applicant will lead UNH Extension’s food safety team in development and delivery of research-based educational programming and technical assistance to farms and food manufacturers. For more information and to apply, visit the University System of New Hampshire website.
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