Mid-Year Edition

A Message from Our FSPCA Director

As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the FSPCA and the 10th

anniversary of the launch of the first standardized curriculum, Preventive

Controls for Human Food, we are also proud to celebrate the significant

achievements of FSPCA Lead Instructors who have been conducting FSPCA training courses to industry personnel across the nation and all over the world. At the time that we are just over one month away from the 10th FSPCA Annual Conference, I would like to draw your attention to the exciting program that our Conference Work Group and invited speakers have developed for this year.

I hope to see you soon at our Annual Conference in November.

Sincerely,

Jason Wan, Ph.D., Director, FSPCA

FSPCA Key Announcements

Incisive Sessions and 10 Years of Food Safety Trainings at the 2026 FSPCA Annual Conference!

We're excited about the speakers and sessions at this year's 2026 FSPCA Annual Conference that will take place Nov. 17-18 at the Chicago Marriott Chicago Southwest, Burr Ridge, IL.

Speakers will include leading food safety experts from Industry, Academia, Federal Government, State Government, Associations, and Consultants. This is the perfect opportunity to network with other food safety professionals, share ideas, gain cross-sector insights, and create more visibility for you and your organization.

In line with the theme of this year's conference, "Advancing Global Implementation of FSMA Regulations Through Educations and Outreach," celebrating the power of collaboration in strengthening preventive food safety systems around the world, sessions will include topics from FDA regulatory updates, food safety culture, FSPCA curricula updates, food traceability training and compliance, to Using AI to Strengthen Food Safety: Real-World Use Cases and global perspectives from international instructors. See the agenda for further details.

We hope to see you there at the 2026 FSPCA Annual Conference. If you haven't already registered, be sure to register. Reservations for room blocks close on Oct. 26, so be sure to book your room now!

Protecting the Integrity of the FSPCA Certificates

FSPCA standardized and core curricula are developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance and recognized by the U.S. FDA. Every official FSPCA certificate is issued directly through FSPCA and contains a unique certificate number that can be used for verification purposes. If you have a need to check the authenticity or validity of an FSPCA course or certificate, contact FSPCA for help. We are here to protect the integrity of FSPCA programs and ensure the credibility of course participants.

Maintaining the integrity of FSPCA credentials helps preserve the value of our training programs and supports the trust that industry and regulatory partners place in FSPCA certificates. Thank you for helping us safeguard the reputation and quality of FSPCA training worldwide.

Lead Instructors: Important for FSPCA's Global Impact

FSPCA values the important job all our Lead Instructors do every day.

FSPCA extends our sincere appreciation to the dedicated Lead Instructors who continue to deliver high-quality training programs throughout the world. Whether teaching Preventive Controls for Human Food, Preventive Controls for Animal Food, Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP), Intentional Adulteration, or Food Traceability courses, Lead Instructors play a critical role in advancing food safety and public health.

Every course delivered represents more than a training event—it is an opportunity to strengthen food safety systems, build industry knowledge, and support regulatory compliance. Through your expertise and commitment, thousands of food industry professionals have gained the knowledge and tools necessary to identify hazards, implement preventive controls, and foster strong food safety cultures within their organizations.

Successful training extends beyond presenting course content. The most effective learning environments encourage participant engagement, practical discussion, and real-world application of concepts. Lead Instructors bring tremendous value by sharing their professional experiences, facilitating meaningful dialogue, and helping participants connect course material to their daily responsibilities. These efforts not only improve learning outcomes but also contribute to long-term improvements in food safety practices across the industry.

The impact of the FSPCA Lead Instructor community cannot be overstated. Collectively, Lead Instructors have helped establish FSPCA programs as globally recognized resources for food safety education. The professionalism, technical expertise, and dedication demonstrated by Lead Instructors continue to strengthen the credibility and reputation of FSPCA training worldwide.

FSPCA Program & Curriculum Update

Food Traceability Rule — Training for the Food Industry

The FDA made an announcement on the availability of the newly launched FSPCA Food Traceability Rule – Training for the Food Industry core curriculum, that was successfully developed in partnership with FDA. This course is an industry-oriented training that provides participants with the foundational knowledge that is needed to understand and comply with the Food Traceability Rule (FTR). The course content is focused on providing the participant with an understanding of FTR record keeping requirements, how to recognize the requirements applicable to them based on the supply chain activities they perform, how traceability data is transmitted through the supply chain, and what is required in a Traceability Plan.

The target audience of this course is firms that manufacture, process, pack, or hold Food Traceability List (FTL) foods and must comply with the Food Traceability Rule, including domestic and foreign firms along the farm-to-table continuum for foods produced for U.S. consumption. This includes farms (produce, aquaculture, eggs), distribution, manufacturing, retail food establishments, and restaurants. Individuals in academia, government, or service providers to the food industry, may also find this course useful.

Visit the FDA website to learn more.

Preventive Controls for Animal Food Curriculum Version 2.0:

Preparing for the Next Phase

The FSPCA Animal Food Working Group is completing the final revisions to the updated Preventive Controls for Animal Food Curriculum Version 2.0 and preparing for implementation, with additional curriculum sessions planned for the FSPCA Annual Conference.

The Animal Food Working Group is in the final stages of completing technical edits, updating images throughout the curriculum to improve clarity and usability, making minor edits to the workbook, and instructor manuals. As these revisions wrap up, the project will transition into change management focused on implementation, communications, and supporting Lead Instructors as the updated curriculum is introduced.

Looking ahead to the FSPCA Annual Conference in November, this year's program will feature an Preventive Controls for Animal Food Curriculum update with representatives from FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), curriculum editor, Dr. Marissa Cohen, and members of the Animal Food Working Group. Sessions will provide attendees with an overview of the curriculum revisions, additional discussions on animal food hazards, and discussions focused on implementation best practices.