Have You Risk Assessed Your Third-Party Auditors?

FSMA’s rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals is now final, and compliance dates for some businesses begin in 18 months. The final rule requires that importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify food imported into the U.S. has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. safety standards.

By Greg Sommerville, Director of Supply Integrity, McCormick Global Ingredients Limited

Part of this new requirement says that importers are responsible for fully determining risk, understanding and assessing it, and evaluating preventative controls over any hazard the importer identifies that could foreseeably occur in the products they purchase. This rule applies to every product!

Additionally, importers are required to conduct supplier verification activities and evaluate corrective actions when necessary. Where there is a hazard controlled by the foreign supplier that has a probability of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals (SAHCODHA), an annual onsite audit is recommended, but other verification activities can be selected.