A new public-private partnership, the Partnership for Food Traceability (PFT), has been launched to advance a shared vision for enhanced food traceability in alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Food Traceability Final Rule, fulfilling section 204(d) of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA 204). The rule, the compliance date for which is January 2026, requires coordination across sectors, industries, company sizes, and business models for traceability, but it does not specify how that coordination should be achieved.

As an independent, sector-neutral forum for industry, regulators, industry associations, technical experts, and technology vendors, PFT aims to facilitate the wide coordination required to comply with the Food Traceability Final Rule. At present, PFT is the only independent forum that brings all parts of the supply chain together to make critical implementation decisions and define a shared vision for food traceability. The partnership includes participation from FDA, state, and local officials, enabling industry and regulators to share knowledge while working to advance traceability.