FDA Announces End of the Discretionary Enforcement Period of the Interim Final Rule on Information Required in Prior Notice of Imported Food

August 30, 2011

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that the discretionary enforcement period of the Interim Final Rule on, “Information Required in Prior Notice of Imported Food,” ends on September 6, 2011. The Interim Final Rule which was published on May 4, 2011, and became effective on July 3, 2011, is a requirement of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).   

FDA issued the Interim Final Rule to require a person submitting prior notice of imported food, including food for animals, to report an additional element of information; the name of any country to which the article has been refused entry. 

Enforcement of this Interim Final Rule will begin on September 6, 2011, and can help FDA make better informed decisions in managing the potential risks of food imported into the United States. 

For additional information, please click on the links below:

• Prior Notice of Imported Foods
• What You Need to Know about Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments
• Interim Final Rule: Information Required in Prior Notice of Imported Food