What’s Next for PC Animal Food Implementation?

The third major compliance dates will soon arrive for the Preventive Controls for Animal Food rule under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). By September 17, 2018, facilities that are small animal food businesses must comply with preventive controls requirements mandated by FSMA. Facilities that are large businesses were required to comply by September 2017. The compliance dates for the Preventive Controls (PC) and Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements are staggered for animal food companies. Facilities that are large and small businesses had to meet the CGMP requirements earlier – by September 2016 and September 2017, respectively.

Also on September 17, 2018, facilities that are very small animal food businesses will be required to comply with the CGMPs. Very small businesses are those averaging less than $2.5 million per year in sales plus the market value of animal food they make or hold. These facilities are exempt from the full preventive controls requirements, but they have an additional year to meet the requirements applicable to qualified facilities.

In a Conversation With Jenny Murphy, Murphy, a consumer safety officer at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, explains what animal food producers can anticipate in this next phase in the implementation of the rule.