What Is FSMA?

The Food Safety Moderization Act is a set of rules proposed by the FDA intended to prevent foodborne illness in the US food supply. The focus of these rules is to implement a proactive approach to food safety using “science based preventative controls” instead of reacting to problems as they occur. The deadline for two of these rules is coming up at the end of August 2015. By that date, the FDA is required to publish final versions of its proposed rules for "Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food" and "Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis ad Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals".

How Does FSMA Affect You? 

The proposed rules specifically apply to brewers and distillers that provide spent grains as animal feed, including Distillers Dry Grain (DDG). Facilities covered by this rule will be required to follow new Good Manufacturing Processes (GMPs) related to the manufacturing, processing and packaging of animal foods. As part of the GMPs, facilities will have to create and maintain a food safety plan, perform hazard analysis and implement preventative controls.

What Impact Does the FSMA Have On Water Treatment?

The FSMA will include inspections by the FDA that will ensure facilities are in compliance. As part of those inspections, the FDA will be reviewing any ingredients that end up in animal feed to ensure that they are approved for use in animal feed. An ingredient is approved if:

1. It  is included in the CFR (need specific code).
2. It is approved by the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
3. A feed additive petition is approved by the FDA, or
4. It is covered by the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rules.

In many biofuel facilities, the additives used to treat the boilers and cooling tower water may end up in the DDG. As a result, the water treatment additives and their ingredients must be approved by one of the methods listed above.

How Can WATERTECH Help?

WATERTECH has a line of both boiler and cooling tower treatment products that have been approved under the GRAS rules. This means that they have been reviewed and are approved for use under the FSMA rules.

Where Can I Find Additional Information