Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsRegulatoryFDAFSMA

FDA Seeks Volunteers to Participate in Rollout of Observation and Corrective Action Report Portal

By Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team
person using laptop with fda logo overlay

Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash

November 1, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is soliciting volunteers to participate in the first phase of the rollout of the new Observation and Corrective Action Report (OCAR) portal. OCAR, a Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) initiative, is a program that enables human and animal food facilities to submit documentation of voluntary corrective actions they have taken to address regulatory non-compliances noted by the agency during facility inspections.

After submission of corrective actions to OCAR by human and animal food facilities, the actions will be documented in a firm’s Corrective Action Report (CAR). The CAR will contain all observation(s) made by FDA during inspections (FDA Form 483 items and any discussion items), a description of the correction(s) made by the firm to address the observation, and any supporting documentation submitted by the firm.

FDA’s OCAR workgroup developed the CAR and is phasing in the voluntary industry portal with collaborative and reciprocal capabilities. Specifically, the portal will allow firms to view their CAR, submit corrective actions, upload supporting evidence and/or documentation, and submit associated comments. FDA’s assessment of those corrections will transmitted to firms through the portal once FDA’s assessment of the corrective actions for the inspection is complete.

Request for Phase I Participants

During the closing meeting of a qualifying inspection with observations documented (FDA Form 483 items and/or discussion items), domestic human and animal food facilities will be offered the opportunity to participate in Phase 1 of the industry portal. Interested firms must notify FDA of their interest, either during the inspection, or within five business days after the inspection closes.

Phase 1 will be limited to approximately one dozen firms that meet selection criteria. After Phase 1 is complete, the industry portal will be made available to all human and animal food facilities.

A user guide for the OCAR industry portal can be accessed through the FDA website. Questions about program eligibility, and requests for more information can be directed to OCARFAQs@fda.hhs.gov.

KEYWORDS: compliance inspections OCAR

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Fsm purple logo 200x200

The Food Safety Magazine editorial team comprises Bailee Henderson, Digital Editor ✉; Adrienne Blume, M.A., Editorial Director; and Stacy Atchison, Publisher.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Food Type
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Personal Hygiene/Handwashing
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Risk Assessment
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

Official logo for World Food Safety Day 2025

FAO Leaders Call for Science as Shared Language Ahead of World Food Safety Day

Image of produce being washed on a conveyor belt in a facility

Science in Action: How Nanobubbles Are Advancing Food Safety Standards

Stylized image of planet Earth with the FAO/WHO World Food Safety Day logo

Funding Food Safety Training Is a Public Health Imperative

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • cargo ship

    End-to-End Traceability is Possible but Requires Collective Action, Says FDA-Commissioned Report

    See More
  • jar of baby food puree

    FDA Sets Action Levels for Lead in Baby Foods as Part of Closer to Zero Initiative

    See More
  • Rick Stier

    How food processors can build corrective action programs

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 15, 2025

    FSMA 204: How to Achieve Traceability and Transparency Along Your Supply Chain

    On Demand: In this webinar, representatives from the fresh produce and foodservice distribution sectors, as well as a traceability-focused industry organization, will discuss the steps companies should take now to ensure they are prepared for FSMA 204 compliance.   
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Praesidio Consulting LLC

    Expert regulatory consulting based upon 25+ years FSIS experience. We specialize in HACCP and related food safety plans, facility design and sanitation program consultation, non-compliance management and appeals, enforcement action response, retention and recall management, and expert witness consultation for litigation cases.
  • EAS Consulting Group, a Certified Group Co.

    EAS Consulting Group is a global leader in regulatory solutions for industries regulated by FDA, USDA, and other federal and state agencies. Our network of 200+ independent consultants enables EAS to provide comprehensive consulting, training, and auditing services, ensuring proactive regulatory compliance for food, supplements, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, tobacco, hemp, and CBD.
  • FoodReady

    FoodReady offers complete FSQ (Food Safety & Quality) software to digitize everything related to quality, food safety, sanitation, and traceability. FoodReady also offers complete consulting services for GFSI audit-preparation, HACCP consulting and development, process authority, FDA consulting, USDA consulting, and master sanitation consulting services from a team of longtime auditors, former Directors of Quality at the largest food companies.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing