FDA Proposes User Fees And Issues Model Standards For Third-Party Accreditation Under FSMA

On July 24, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published two new documents to support the development of a program to accredit third-party auditors and certification bodies under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). First, FDA issued a proposed rule to establish user fees for the third-party auditor accreditation program. Second, FDA published draft guidance that sets forth Model Accreditation Standards (MAS) for the program. Both documents relate to the proposed rule on third-party certification for imported foods, which was issued July 29, 2013. FDA is under a court order to finalize that regulation by October 31, 2015. Comments on the proposed rule and draft guidance are due October 7, 2015.