FDA releases final rule for prior notice of food imports

FDA releases final rule for prior notice of food imports The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published its final regulation for the submission of prior notices for food imports, including animal feed.
   The final rule, effective May 6, 2009, implements the 2002 Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act, which required prior notification of imported food to start on Dec. 12, 2003. The final rule requires that prior notices be submitted to the FDA electronically via Customs and Border Protection's Automated Broker Interface system or the FDA's Prior Notice System Interface.
   The information for these prior notices must be submitted and confirmed electronically by FDA for review no less than eight hours for food shipments arriving in the first U.S. port of arrival by ocean transport, four hours for cargoes shipped by air or rail, and two hours for trucked food shipments arriving at border ports.
   The FDA said food importers that fail to file prior notices may have their shipments refused and held. For the complete regulations, access the Nov. 7 Federal Register notice online at edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-26282.htm.
   The agency also published in the Federal Register (edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-26281.htm) a draft Compliance Policy Guide for FDA and CBP officers to enforce the regulation.