The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published Federal Register notices on August 8 to extend the comment periods on the proposed rules for Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food and Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption 60 days until November 15, 2013. This is the second and final extension of the comment period for these two rules. The extension of the comment period also applies to the information collection provisions associated with the proposed rules.

FDA officials said the agency is taking this action to allow interested persons the opportunity to consider the interrelationships between these two proposals, which were published on January 16, 2013, and the two new proposed rules that published on July 29, 2013, Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals and the Accreditation of Third-Party Auditors/Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits and to Issue Certifications.

These four proposed rules are part of the foundation of, and central framework for, the modern food safety system envisioned by Congress in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

To learn more about the rules, including how to submit comments electronically, see:

• Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals Proposed Rule
• Accreditation of Third-Party Auditors/Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits and to Issue Certifications Proposed Rule
• Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food Proposed Rule
• Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Proposed Rule