The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published translated materials for the Food Traceability Final Rule in five languages: Indonesian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese. The translated materials include the codified rule, questions and answers, the Food Traceability List (FTL), and additional resources.
In November 2022, FDA issued the Food Traceability Final Rule, designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market. At the core of the final rule is a requirement that persons who manufacture, process, pack or hold food on the FTL maintain records including Key Data Elements (KDEs) related to Critical Tracking Events (CTEs). Foods on the FTL include fresh cut fruits and vegetables, shell eggs and nut butters, as well as certain fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, ready-to-eat deli salads, cheeses, and seafood products.
The final rule aligns with current industry best practices and covers domestic firms, retail food establishments, restaurants, and farms, as well as foreign firms and farms producing food for U.S. consumption.
The Food Traceability Final Rule is a key component of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint and implements Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
