In the face of industry complaints, the Food and Drug Administration said it would extend the date, now set for January 2018, to comply with agricultural water standards for produce. In an announcement, the agency said “the length of the extension is under consideration” and will be determined “using appropriate procedures at a later time.” The extension does not apply to sprouts.
The water standards flow from the Food Safety Modernization Act and limit the microbial content of water used in agriculture, including irrigation water that comes in contact with fruit and vegetables. “Agricultural water can be a major conduit of pathogens that can contaminate produce,” said FDA. “FDA remains committed to protecting public health while implementing rules that are workable across the diversity of the food industry.”
Early this year, FDA officials told produce industry officials that water testing standards were under review, which could delay the implementation date. “In addition to water quality, the produce industry has registered concerns about packing house regulations being too vague and confusing in addition to being unclear about which rules apply to certain operations,” said Food Safety News.