FDA Food Facility Registration: Dairy Food Processors

 

To protect the U.S. public from an attack on the food supply, the FDA passed the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act). This requires food processors that manufacture, process, pack or hold food to register their facilities with the FDA. The purpose of registration is to allow the FDA to be able to locate and contact food processors that may be affected in case of a potential bioterrorism incident or a foodborne illness outbreak.

 

Dairy food processors are subject to these regulations, and the list of all foods that that are covered under this regulation can be found on the Penn State Extension website and the FDA website. The FDA website has several guidance documents and FAQs to assist you in this process.

 

Some dairy processors may be exempt from registering their facility, especially if their primary sales outlet is directly to consumers, such as at a farmers market or your own farm stand. To find out if you qualify for this exemption, see the guidance document and flow chart on the FDA website on exemptions for small-scale processors and retail establishments.

 

There is no fee to register your facility. Registration is done online at the FDA website for Registration of Food Facilities. 

Video: Farm Health Guardian | Digital Biosecurity in Real Time

Disease risk, biosecurity, and real-time monitoring continue to be major topics across the pork industry. In this episode of Swine Web Industry Perspectives, presented by Farm Health Guardian, we discuss how digital biosecurity and real-time data are changing the way producers think about herd protection, people movement, and operational decision-making.

The conversation explores:

disease risk in modern pork production,

the impact of people movement on biosecurity,

the importance of real-time monitoring,

digital biosecurity technology,

and how Farm Health Guardian developed tools designed to support modern swine operations.

As the industry continues focusing on prevention, preparedness, and operational efficiency, connected technologies and actionable data are becoming increasingly important parts of modern herd health management.