FDA extends comment period for food imports interim prior notice rule

FDA extends comment period for food imports interim prior notice rule    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration agreed to extend the public comment period for its interim prior notice rule for food imports until July 13.
   The FDA reopened the comment period for the rule for another month April 14. However, the Canadian government requested another extension.
   The agency said the extension helps “ensure that those who comment on this IFR (interim final rule) would have had the benefit of our outreach and education efforts and would have had some experience with the systems, timeframes, and data elements of the prior notice system.”
   The FDA is also requesting additional comments regarding its cooperation with the Customs and Border Protection agency to monitor prior notices for food imports.
   The FDA is required to implement a prior notice program for food imports under the 2002 Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act.