Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an updated training strategy that reflects progress made with the agency’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) over the past year or so.

Now, the latest is that FDA has awarded funding for the development of training curricula and delivery:

A cooperative agreement focused on small and mid-size businesses involved in local food production, including those that engage in sustainable and organic farming, has been awarded to the National Farmers Union Foundation.

A cooperative agreement focused on preparing food producers in Native American tribes has been awarded to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Federal grants have been awarded for the establishment of regional centers to facilitate training delivery under FDA’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Recipients include:

• Southern Regional Center: University of Florida
• Western Regional Center: Oregon State University
• North Central Regional Center: Iowa State University
• Northeast Regional Center: University of Vermont and State Agricultural College

This program is focused on farmers, small food processors and small produce merchant wholesalers.

Today’s update is an evolution of two previous announcements. In October 2015, FDA shared its strategy to train domestic and foreign food producers and domestic importers on the preparations needed to meet requirements of the FSMA rules. This was followed by a May 2016 announcement that all seven foundational rules of FSMA were final.

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