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) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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