Does the FDA or USDA regulate my food product?

The USDA (through FSIS) regulates meat, poultry, and processed egg products; the FDA regulates almost everything else. Mixed products can involve both. Identify the lead agency first, because it determines registration, inspection, and labeling rules.

What is a food safety plan?

A written plan required under the Preventive Controls for Human Food rule. It documents a hazard analysis, the preventive controls that address those hazards, and the monitoring, verification, and corrective actions that keep them working — prepared or overseen by a qualified individual.

When does FSMA 204 traceability take effect?

The FDA extended the compliance date by 30 months; enforcement is not expected before July 20, 2028. The recordkeeping requirements are unchanged, so businesses handling listed foods should build their systems ahead of that date.

Do food processing rules apply to imported food?

Yes. Imported processed food must meet the same FDA standards, and the U.S. importer must additionally maintain a Foreign Supplier Verification Program for the foreign processor. Food processing compliance is built on written plans and current registrations — both easy to let lapse. Reidel Law Firm advises processors and importers on FSMA compliance and food import requirements, on flat-fee terms. Get an import compliance memo.

Food Processing Regulation: An FDA Guide

The FDA is the primary regulator of food processing in the United States, and its authority runs on four pillars: facility registration, preventive controls, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), and labeling. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed in 2011, shifted the system from reacting to contamination toward preventing it — which is why a modern food business is judged on its written plans, not just its end product. This guide maps the framework for processors and the importers who bring their goods into the U.S. market.