On Wednesday, April 20, ACS presented at the FDA's Public Meeting, "Food Safety Modernization Act: Focus on Preventive Controls for Facilities." Board Chairman David Gremmels, co-owner of Rogue Creamery, spoke about new FSMA preventive measures and their potential impact on artisan and specialty cheesemakers. The following areas of concern for ACS members were highlighted:
- Developing collaborative, science-based approaches that recognize the unique, traditional techniques of artisan cheesemaking.
- Defining and determining a manageable fee schedule for producers with a direct correlation to scale and risk.
- Providing education and outreach for the farm, facility, distributor, inspector, and state departments of agriculture.
- Encouraging producers to collect testing and safety data through reasonable reporting requirements.
- Ensuring new regulations are compatible with EU and global standards to facilitate export.
Read the complete statement on our new website.
ACS is proud to work on behalf of our members to ensure that the unique needs of artisan and specialty cheesemakers are considered by regulatory bodies such as the FDA. We will continue to share news and updates on regulatory issues in the coming weeks and months.
If you have any questions or feedback about ACS's recent statements to the FDA, please contact info@cheesesociety.org.
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Source: American Cheese Society