FDA releases Fact Sheet, reminding produce stakeholders of the upcoming end of the intended enforcement discretion period for harvest and post-harvest agricultural water

The FDA announced that the intended enforcement discretion period for the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water provisions for covered produce (other than sprouts) in the Produce Safety Rule ends on January 26, 2023, for all businesses other than small and very small businesses. To help prepare growers, the FDA has released a fact sheet with questions and answers on the requirements. The FDA proposal rule from December 2021 did not include changes to agricultural water harvest and post-harvest requirements. Subsequently, the FDA issued a supplemental notice to extend the compliance dates for the pre-harvest requirements and announced end dates for the intended enforcement discretion. The key dates are January 26, 2025, for very small businesses; January 26, 2024, for small businesses; and January 26, 2023, for all other businesses. During the first year after the end of the intended enforcement discretion period, the FDA will work closely with international, state, and industry partners to advance training, technical assistance, educational visits, and on-farm readiness reviews to prepare farmers and regulators for implementing these provisions. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-releases-fact-sheet-reminds-produce-stakeholders-upcoming-end-intended-enforcement-discretion