Any logistics business that operates food grade warehousing must follow the regulations set out by the Food and Drug Administration, a government body that regulates the treatment and condition of food products. These official standards exist to protect the public from being exposed to contaminated food. If a company fails to follow them, it can face fines and even the suspension of their business license.
The FDA has regulations in place for everything from refrigerated storage in warehouse facilities to the supply chain management. The logistics management of every facility are responsible for quality food storage, and the FDA is responsible for keeping them honest. Over the years, their powers and precautions have changed to address the needs and risks of the food industry. There are various ways that the FDA works to maintain the safety of the food we eat.
- Registration
All food and beverage manufacturing, processing, or storage facilities must register with the FDA. This filing must state the permission for the FDA to enter and inspect the location. It also includes contact and business information for the company. The filing also operates as a contractual agreement by the company to follow FDA standards. - Prevention Plan
A company must have a written plan in place that lists the types of risks that would put food in jeopardy. The program needs to have planned solutions to remedy these risks and the precautions they are taking to prevent them. Employees must be trained on all safety procedures and the prevention plan.The plan also needs to provide a procedure of steps following a contamination. The prevention plan must be made available to the FDA upon request. Policies like this are one of the ways a company can act to protect the quality of the food they handle. - Inspections
In 2011, the FDA rolled out the Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA). Its main objective was to prevent contamination and protect employees from retaliation for reporting safety offenses. The FMSA dictates that a food grade warehouse must submit to an inspection within five years of the start date, followed by other inspections every three years. These inspections work to maintain their safety standards and keep everyone honest with their precautions. - Recalls
The FDA has the power to call for the recall of any food that might be contaminated or incorrectly labeled. There are some rules in place to give the locations time to react. Any warehouse must be notified of the risk and provided the chance to order a voluntary recall. If they fail to comply, then the FDA has the authority to shut down all processing and distribution. The FDA also maintains a database that anyone can check for the status of a recall. - Disciplinary Actions
As we said before, with proper cause, the FDA can issue fines and revoke business licenses. They also have the power to pursue legal action in a civil or criminal court against the owner of a facility. These actions exist to give the FDA the ability to enforce their regulations across all industries.
FW Logistics believes in operating within the regulations of the FDA to protect the safety of customers we supply. Along with following the FDA standards, we also abide by OSHA, ISO 9001, and GMP certification. Because of our commitment to these regulations, we have received a superior rating from AIB international. We ensure these certifications, so our clients know we do everything we can to hold ourselves to the highest standards. Contact us today!