Compiled by a group of volunteers from members of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Food Safety Council, IFPA has published an industry guidance on preharvest agricultural water. The materials are intended to help stakeholders comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Subpart E requirements for agricultural water.
While sections of the rule relating to preharvest agricultural water were under revision by FDA during the preparation of the guidance document, the resulting briefs and other communications rely on scientific evidence that are applicable to many different cropping systems, recognizing that the rule is relevant to any produce that is likely to be consumed raw, regardless of where or how it was grown.