F.D.A.'s Reportable Food Registry opens

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has introduced the Reportable Food Registry (R.F.R.), a new program the agency said will help address the issue of foodborne illness. The F.D.A. said food industry executives identified as "responsible parties" must alert the F.D.A. within 24-hours through an electronic portal that is available on the agency's web site (www.fda.gov) when "a company believes there is reasonable probability a product will cause adverse consequences in humans or animals," said Michael Taylor, senior adviser to the commissioner of the F.D.A.The R.F.R took effect with the launch of the portal today.The reporting requirement applies to all foods and animal feed regulated by the F.D.A., except infant formula and dietary supplements. Examples provided by the F.D.A. of reasons a food may be reportable include bacterial contamination, allergen mislabeling or elevated levels of certain chemical components.

"By fostering real-time submission to the F.D.A. of information on food safety hazards, the registry enhances F.D.A.'s ability to act quickly to prevent foodborne illness," Mr. Taylor said. "Working with the food industry, we can swiftly remove contaminated products from commerce and keep them out of consumers' hands."

The requirements apply to any person who has to submit registration information to the F.D.A. for a food plant that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States, according to the F.D.A. more