Fresh produce items included in FDA Final Rule on Traceability

18 Nov 2022

The FDA final rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods (Food Traceability Final Rule) establishes traceability recordkeeping requirements, beyond those in existing regulations, for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL).

The new requirements identified in the final rule will allow for faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or deaths.

At the core of this rule is a requirement that persons subject to the rule who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the FTL, maintain records and provide information to the FDA within 24 hours or within some reasonable time to which the FDA has agreed.

The compliance date for all persons subject to the recordkeeping requirements is Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Section 204 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires the FDA to designate foods for which additional recordkeeping requirements are appropriate and necessary to protect public health.

The Food Traceability List (FTL) identifies the foods for which the additional traceability records are required.

The list includes: cucumbers, fresh herbs, leafy greens, melons, peppers, sprouts, tomatoes, tropical tree fruits and fresh cut fruit / veg.

Food Traceability List | FDA