Workshop to discuss FDA’s Proposed Water Rule for Produce Farms

— Written By
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

How does FDA’s Proposed Water Rule impact NC produce farms?

On December 2, 2021 FDA published the proposed content that would replace the original water provisions in the Produce Safety Rule for produce farms. This new approach sets requirements on how to manage water that is likely to come in contact with the edible portion of the crop. The requirements for water used in post harvest operations were not changed.

Under this proposal, farms would be required to conduct annual systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. The assessment would include an evaluation of the water system, agricultural water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on source water by activities conducted on adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors, such as the results of optional water testing. A summary of the new approach can be found in these factsheets published by FDA:

Agricultural Water Proposed Rule

Factors to consider as part of the Agricultural Water Assessment

Full Proposal

In the proposal, FDA states they want to receive input from growers on these provisions. Consider this a unique opportunity for you as a produce grower to share how the proposed regulation may impact your operations before the proposal is final.

With all this in mind, our NC State Extension Produce Safety Team is putting together a session before the Vegetable Conference starts on February 23, 2022 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Asheville, NC at the Mt. Pisgah Room from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

During this session we will go over the proposed rule and assist growers that would like to submit their comments to FDA.

There is no cost to attend this session or registration for this event. If you have any questions please contact Area Specialized Agent- Food Safety, Elena Rogers, at elena_rogers@ncsu.edu or via phone at 828-352-2519.