In light of future compliance dates for pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rules, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has compiled a list of frequently asked questions to assist producers.
The compliance dates are as follows:
- Large farms (average annual produce sales greater than $500,000) — April 7, 2025
- Small farms (average annual produce sales above $250,000 and up to $500,000) — April 6, 2026
- Very small farms (average annual produce sales above $25,000 and up to $250,000)
The in-depth FAQ document provides helpful information concerning:
- What constitutes “agricultural water” for the purposes of the FSMA
- Inspection and maintenance of agricultural water systems
- Pre-harvest agricultural water assessments
- Harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements
- Corrective and mitigation measures
- Agricultural water treatment
The FDA also has a list of virtual Produce Safety Alliance grower training courses available online. Growers can schedule a free on-farm readiness review as well. Technical assistance is also available for operations that qualify as very small farms.