The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced dates for further meetings to provide food companies with information on complying with the bioterrorism act.
After the launch of its new website for registration of food facilities on October 16, the FDA yesterday held public meetings in several cities and via satellite downlink to provide a forum for questions on the interim final rule published earlier this month.
With some exemptions, all companies that sell food, including dietary supplements and dietary ingredients, in the United States are required to complete this new registration process by December 12, 2003.
Further meetings will be held throughout November in Detroit, Los Angeles, Jamaica Queens, San Antonio, Miami and Baltimore. More information is available from the FDA. Participants must register at least two workdays before the meeting date.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has prepared a document to assist members in understanding registration requirements. It has also prepared a draft template communication that companies may use to inform their foreign suppliers of the need to register. The association is offering its services to act as the US agent for international members and foreign suppliers to domestic members for a fee.
The NNFA is also providing information on the new rules and is hosting a bioterrorism teleseminar tomorrow morning from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PST). The teleseminar will highlight key legal and regulatory aspects of these significant new rules. FDA officials will also be on hand to answer questions.
The registration form can be downloaded from the NNFA website.