New requirements: Food Traceability Final Rule

New requirements have been identified in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act Food Traceability Final Rule. Persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL), will be required to maintain records containing key data elements associated with specific critical tracking events and provide this information to the FDA within a reasonable timeframe. The new requirements will allow for faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or deaths.

The FDA will hold an informational webinar Wednesday, December 7, 2022 that will provide an overview of the final rule, including the foods and entities covered by the rule, explain the exemptions from the rule, and discuss the recordkeeping requirements of the rule.  The FDA will answer pre-submitted questions and take questions during the webinar. Visit the FDA’s webpage to register for this webinar and submit questions.

FDA has also developed factsheets to assist retail food establishments and restaurants with the Food Traceability Rule.

The compliance date for all persons subject to the recordkeeping requirements is Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

FDA is using it’s Retail Listserv as one of the means for communicating information about the Food Traceability Final Rule. This list is available to anyone. Subscribe by entering your email in the form at the bottom of the FDA’s Retail Food Protection website landing page.

ALL questions regarding the Food Traceability Final Rule should be directed to the FSMA Technical Assistance Network.

The final rule is a key component of FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint and implements Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

Visit the FDA’s website for more information.