FDA’s Retail Food Program Announces Standards Self-Assessment – Audit Verification Summary & Gap Analysis tool

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces the posting of the Retail Food Program Standards “Self-Assessment – Audit Verification Summary & Gap Analysis tool (SAVA tool). The tool is now located on the Retail Food Protection, Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) website. Users can access the SAVA tool by visiting the website and scrolling to the “Information about Enrolling and Participating in the Retail Program Standards” section.

The tool, developed by the FDA, assists enrolled state, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions in monitoring and tracking their progress with the VNRFRPS. The VNRFRPS provide a systematic approach, through a continuous improvement process, to enhancing retail food regulatory programs.

The VNRFRPS also defines what constitutes a highly effective and responsive program for the regulation of foodservice and retail food establishments. The FDA recognizes the benefits associated with the SAVA tool, although it does not replace the FDA Form 3958 FDA National Registry Report.

The SAVA tool is designed to assist enrolled jurisdictions in tracking progress towards meeting one or more of the Retail Program Standards. It also includes an instruction tab to help users understand how to document advancement toward their goals.

For additional information or assistance using the SAVA tool, users can contact their assigned FDA Retail Food Specialist.

For more information about the Retail Program Standards, see our resource page here: