INTRODUCTION

BRC FSMA EXPLAINED

FSMA.
WHAT DO
I NEED
TO DO?

FSMA.
NEXT
STEPS

FSMA.
READY

A SHORT GUIDE
1
INTRODUCTION
The Act was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011. Its primary aim is to ensure the US
food supply is safe by shifting the focus from just responding to all food risks to preventing them. FSMA
focuses more on preventing food safety issues rather than relying on reacting to problems after they occur.
The law also provides Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with new enforcement authority designed to
achieve higher rates of compliance with prevention and risk-based food safety standards and to better
respond to and contain problems when they occur. The law also gives FDA important new tools to hold
imported foods to the same standards as domestic foods and directs FDA to build an integrated national
food safety system in partnership with state and local authorities.

FSMA CUSTOMER TYPES

US FOOD
MANUFACTURING
SITES DOMESTIC
SUPPLY CHAIN ONLY

BRC GLOBAL
STANDARD
FOR FOOD US FOOD
SAFETY MANUFACTURING
ISSUE 7 + SITES DOMESTIC &
FSMA READY INTERNATIONAL
MODULE SUPPLY CHAIN

FOREIGN FOOD
MANUFACTURING
SITES EXPORTING
TO THE US
WHO DOES FSMA APPLY TO AND BY WHEN?
Compliance Timeline as of January 1 2016

6 months 1 year 18 months 2 years 30 months 3 years

All other businesses > 500 full-time equivalent employees1

All other businesses > 500 full-time equivalent employees2

Business type

Small business receiving facility1

Small business receiving facility2

All other businesses < 500 full-time equivalent employees

Small businesses < 500 full-time equivalent employees

Small businesses subject to the Pasturised Milk Ordinance

Very small businesses <$1 million per year3

1
Supplier IS subject to the human preventative controls rule or produce safety rule (or 6 months after the supplier is required to comply, whichever is later).
2
Supplier IS NOT subject to the human preventative controls rule or produce safety rule (or 6 months after the supplier is required to comply, whichever is later).
3
Except for records to support its status as a very small business January 1, 2016.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

Nothing ISO 9001

2nd
Party
Audit

ISO
22000

FSMA ready
Module FSMA
BRC READY
Food 7

BRC Food 7
plus the FSMA
Ready Module
BENEFITS OF THE
FSMA READY MODULE

1. Once you have successfully completed the

BRC FSMA Module you will be recognised and
listed as FSMA Ready on the BRC Global
Standards Directory allowing new customers
to locate you

6. Achieving the BRC FSMA 2. Manufacturing sites certificated

Ready Module will help you to the BRC Global Standard for
to continue trading with your Food Safety Issue 7 only need to
US customers comply with the 23 additional
clauses to be FSMA Ready

FSMA READY

5. The BRC FSMA Ready 3. Delegates who attend a

Module has been designed to FSPCA training course
be included with your next delivered by the BRC Academy
BRC Food Safety audit will be recognised as the site's
FSMA qualified individual

4. When you have successfully completed the

BRC FSMA Module you will be sent your
FSMA Ready certificate

BRC Global Standards

4th Floor, 2 London Bridge, London SE1 9RA
T. +44 (0)20 7854 8900 F. +44 (0)20 7854 8901 E. enquiries@brcglobalstandards.com
www.brcglobalstandards.com
www.brcparticipate.com
www.brcbookshop.com

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