The rules are the latest in a series proposed under the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed in 2011 and represents the most sweeping food safety reform in more than 70 years.
More than 3,000 people in the United States die each year from food-borne illnesses, according to federal data. One in six are sickened and 100,000 hospitalized from illness tied to pathogens such as salmonella, E.Coli and listeria.
Under the proposals, companies would be required to identify hazards associated with each food that might be reasonably likely to occur. They would have to keep records, which would be subject to audits. The audits would be carried out by private firms accredited by an FDA-sanctioned body such as a government.
"We are very confident that, if we are able to implement this over time, we certainly will reduce the burden of illness," Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, said in an interview. "We don't think we'll get to zero. But we know that these conscientious preventive measures work."
The purpose of new law is to move the FDA into preventative mode when dealing with food-borne illness from the reactive mode in which it has operated historically. Once fully enacted, the law will give the agency increased powers to inspect facilities and enforce compliance with safety standards.
The United States imports about 15 percent of its total food supply from overseas. For some sectors, such as seafood, fruits and vegetables, and spices, the imports are much higher.
For fiscal 2013, the biggest agricultural exporters to the United States are forecast to be Canada and Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. China, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand are other major suppliers.
The FDA said it will continue to conduct border inspections and will increase inspections at foreign facilities.
This summer, at least 150 people in the United States were sickened with Hepatitis A linked to pomegranate seeds imported from Turkey and used in a frozen berry mix sold in U.S. stores. And cucumbers imported from Mexico were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella that sickened 84 people in 18 states.
The proposals drew praise from several groups. The Produce Marketing Association said the rules must advance "produce safety in a meaningful way for industry members that also protects public health."
And Sandra Eskin, director for food safety at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said "it is important and long overdue."
Additional proposals are in development. Within the next few months, FDA hopes to issue a proposal to improve the safety of animal feed and pet food, Taylor said. It is also working on rules to better protect against intentional tampering with food, and on rules on food transportation.
The FDA has missed several deadlines to implement the new food law. In June, a federal court ordered the FDA to finalize its rules by June 30, 2015, and said all draft rule proposals must be presented to the public by November 30 of this year.
"Food safety is a global problem. We're all eager to get this done as expeditiously as possible," said Taylor.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut, urged the FDA and federal government to implement the rules as quickly as possible.
"American families should never have to worry that their dinner will make them ill," she said.
The law has its critics. Baylen Linnekin, director of Keep Food Legal, a group that opposes many food regulations, said the FDA is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to provide Americans "with a false veneer of safety."
The FDA will hold a 120-day comment period on its proposals. It also on Friday extended by 60 days the comment period on rules proposed in January covering safety for U.S.-grown produce. That comment period is now set to end on September 16.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn