Govt. addressing Foreign Supplier Verification in repeated webinar series

In a program that will be repeated in English, Spanish and Portuguese to a number of audiences, the FDA and USDA/FAS is presenting the Outreach Webinars for Industry Stakeholders on the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) July 13-Aug. 9.

The presentation features the same webinar, according to a release from the FDA. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JVTD2KD.

The presentations will be given in English, Spanish and Portuguese. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the U.S Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) is hosting a series of virtual webinars for Latin America stakeholders on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP),” a release said.

The dates and times follow, all EST:
In English
English-Speaking Produce Stakeholders in the Caribbean and Latin America: Thursday, Aug. 5 – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

In Spanish
Mexico: Tuesday, July 13 – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
Central America: Thursday, July 22 –11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
Peru, Ecuador, Colombia: Friday, July 23 –11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Chile, Uruguay, Argentina: Thursday, July 29 – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

In Portuguese
Brazil: Monday, Aug. 9 –11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The targeted audience is “Caribbean and English-speaking produce stakeholders in Latin America, and speaker will be Dr. Mauricio Castelo, FDA Produce Safety Expert, Produce Safety Network

The release continued, “In July 2020, FDA published the New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint, which applies to imported produce. Core Element 2 (smarter tools and approaches for prevention and outbreak response) and CORE Element 4 (food safety culture) build on work that the FDA has done to implement FSMA regulations including the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).

“The PSR establishes science-based minimum standards for safe production and harvesting of fresh fruits and vegetables. Farms that export certain fresh fruits and vegetables to the United States may be subject to the PSR. The FSVP Rule requires importers to verify that foreign farms are in compliance with the PSR.” 

If you have questions about the webinar series, you’re invited to contact Mauricio Castelo, FDA, Division of Produce Safety.

For additional information on produce safety in English, go to  FSMA Technical Assistance Network. For additional information on produce safety in Spanish, go to ProduceSafetyNetworkEnEspanol@fda.hhs.gov.