FSPCA Quarterly Newsletter

June 2024 Newsletter

Volume 4: Issue 2

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In this issue:

Notes from the FSPCA Director

FSPCA Strategic Plan

FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 Update

FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 Participant Course Pilot

FSPCA Food Traceability Rule Core Training Curriculum Development Update

2024 FSPCA Annual Conference Registration Open

FSPCA Pre-Conference In-Person Version 2.0 Human Food Lead Instructor Refresher Training

2024 FSPCA Lead Instructor Courses

FSPCA Human Food Lead Instructor Online Application Now Available

Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) and FSPCA Booths at upcoming Food Safety Conferences

FDA FSMA Related Announcements

Jason Wan, Ph.D.

FSPCA Director

Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH)

Notes from the FSPCA Director

I am very pleased to report that FSPCA has made many significant advancements in the past three months on key initiatives that are important for the FSPCA community.

The Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) Version 2.0 standardized curriculum has been reviewed by FDA. A virtual pilot Lead Instructor Refresher training course for PCHF Version 2.0 is scheduled for July, and virtual deliveries of Lead Instructor Refresher training courses will follow in August/September.

In the meantime, the updated FSPCA Human Food Lead Instructor application portal is live now to accept new Human Food Lead Instructor applications, and a PCHF Version 2.0 Lead Instructor course is scheduled for October.

The month of June also saw our FSPCA community supporting the June 7th World Food Safety Day, and a successful virtual delivery of a Preventive Controls for Animal Food Lead Instructor course.

The FSPCA Annual Conference Work Group has developed an excellent conference program, and the registration website is now open for early-bird registrations.

In addition, with the support from the FSPCA Executive Advisory Board, Committees, and Work Groups, FSPCA has developed a strategic plan to articulate the strategic goals in achieving FSPCA‘s vision and mission.

I look forward to seeing you again soon at many of the upcoming FSPCA events, and at the 8th FSPCA Annual Conference on November 19-20 at the Chicago Marriott Southwest in Burr Ridge, IL.

FSPCA Strategic Plan

The FSPCA Strategic Plan articulates the FSPCA’s vision, mission, core values, and goals and objectives FSPCA hopes to accomplish and what actions the Alliance will take to realize those goals. The strategic plan provides the context for performance goals, priorities, and budget planning, and the framework for FSPCA’s operational plans.

FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) Version 2.0 Update

We are thrilled to announce that the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 curriculum is in the final stage of review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our dedicated FSPCA PCHF Core Editorial Team members are now incorporating FDA feedback and formatting the course materials for print will begin soon.

Meanwhile, the FSPCA Version 2.0 Implementation team is developing the virtual Human Food Lead Instructor Refresher Training schedule for FSPCA v1.2 Human Food Lead Instructors. FSPCA expects virtual deliveries of the mandatory Lead Instructor Refresher Training to begin in August/September.

FSPCA is considering adding two in-person Lead Instructor Refresher Trainings on November 18, at the Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge, one day prior to the FSPCA Annual Conference. See more information below in the FSPCA Pre-Conference Version 2.0 Human Food Lead Instructor Refresher Training story.

FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 Participant Course Pilot

Thirty-two participants from the food and allied industries attended the new FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 pilot Participant Course on May 6-8 in Rosemont IL, in collaboration with Food Safety Summit. The pilot was a great forum for industry participants to learn from the updated curriculum, and for FSPCA to receive comments and suggestions from the target industry audience.

FSPCA applauds the efforts of, and gives sincere thanks to, the dedicated FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 Pilot Instructors, Kathy Gombas and Martin Bucknavage.

FSPCA Food Traceability Rule Core Training Curriculum Development Update

With the support and partnership of FDA, FSPCA is developing a core training curriculum for the food industry on the Food Traceability Rule. An FSPCA Food Traceability Rule Core Curriculum Editorial Team has been established, including subject matter experts from FDA, industry and academia. The team is working to create training curriculum and exercises to help food industry personnel to understand FDA’s Food Traceability Rule requirements. Training is anticipated to be available by mid-2025.

This partnership of FDA with FSPCA on Food Traceability Rule core curriculum development is featured in the June 27, 2024 FDA Updates Food Traceability Resources announcement.

2024 FSPCA Annual Conference - A Global Food Safety Community Navigating a Changing Landscape

Now accepting registrations: Join us for the FSPCA Annual Conference on November 19-20 at the Chicago Marriott Southwest in Burr Ridge, IL. Expand your professional network and enhance your food safety knowledge alongside subject matter experts from across the globe.

BOOK HOTEL

LEARN MORE

FSPCA Pre-Conference In-Person Version 2.0 Human Food Lead Instructor Refresher Training

In addition to the virtual deliveries of the Version 2.0 Human Food Lead Instructor Refresher Training courses to be scheduled this summer, FSPCA is considering adding two in-person Lead Instructor Refresher Training courses on November 18, at the Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge, one day prior to the FSPCA Annual Conference.

We ask if v1.2 Human Food Lead Instructors are interested in attending one of these in-person training courses, to submit their name to a waitlist before August 1. Please indicate whether you are interested in attending a course in English or Spanish.

Based on demand, the FSPCA will announce training course availability and fees by the end of August.

JOIN THE WAITLIST

2024 FSPCA Lead Instructor (LI) Courses

Milestone Achieved! The virtual FSPCA Preventive Controls for Animal Food Lead Instructor course concluded successfully on June 28. A big congratulations to the newest FSPCA Animal Food Lead Instructors who have completed the program! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated FSPCA Animal Food Trainers of Trainers Cassie Jones, Kim Koch, and Jennifer Abrahamzon.

Curious to learn more about the FSPCA Animal Food Lead Instructor program? Visit: https://www.fspca.net/pcaf-lead-instructor-applicants

Hurry! Only 4 seats remain for the virtual FSPCA Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessment Combination Course being held August 6-7 and August 13-14. Secure your spot before enrollment closes on July 15!

SAVE THE DATES!

Enrollment opening soon for the virtual September 9-13, 2024 FSPCA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs Lead Instructor Course and the virtual October 7-11, 2024 FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Version 2.0 Lead Instructor Course.

FSPCA Human Food Lead Instructor Online Application Now Available

FSPCA is excited to announce the new and streamlined Human Food Lead Instructor Application has been published! Before beginning your online application, we strongly recommend you download and review the “How to submit an FSPCA Lead Instructor Application” handout. This document provides assessment FAQs, helpful hints, and step-by-step directions to aid in successful submission of the FSPCA Human Food Lead Instructor Application.

Visit the FSPCA website for additional details and helpful resources: https://www.fspca.net/pchf-lead-instructor-applicants. Click on each tab on the webpage.

Criteria Tab: FSPCA Human Food Lead Instructor Criteria
Application Tab: Note that to submit an application, candidates must pass an assessment by 80% or higher
Training Tab: FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Lead Instructor Course Description and Prerequisites
Enroll Tab: Human Food Lead Instructor Course Schedule
Materials and Resources Tab: Course material information and FDA rules and guidance resources

Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) and FSPCA Booths at upcoming Food Safety Conferences

IAFP BOOTH #708 JULY 14-17

AOAC BOOTH #508 AUGUST 23-28

We are excited to attend the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, from July 14-17. As the leading food safety conference, this event provides an opportunity to network with thousands of food safety professionals from around the globe.

And, there’s no better place to talk about food than Baltimore! Join us at the 2024 AOAC Annual Meeting & Exposition where we're Cultivating Leaders & Connecting Analytical Communities, August 23 – 28, 2024, in Baltimore, MD.

FDA FSMA Related Announcements

FDA Updates Food Traceability Resources

The FDA has published additional resources to its website to help industry comply with the Food Traceability Rule. These include:

A downloadable, electronic sortable spreadsheet template;
Minor revisions to the Food Traceability List clarifying the status of previously frozen foods on the list, as well as a new FAQ summarizing the changes;
A chart summarizing exemptions relevant to produce farms for both the Produce Safety Rule and the Food Traceability Rule;
A supply chain example for sprouts; and
New translated material about the Traceability Lot Code and the Traceability Plan.

In addition, the FDA has partnered with the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) to develop training for the food industry on the Food Traceability Rule. Curriculum development has been initiated by a team including subject matter experts from FDA, industry and academia. The team is working to create training exercises to help food industry personnel to understand FDA’s Food Traceability Rule requirements. Training is anticipated to be available by mid-2025.

The Food Traceability Final Rule is a key component of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint and implements Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

FDA Activities

The FDA is sharing updates on their activities to better understand Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the general food supply, including recent testing results, continuing efforts to supplement our PFAS data and monitoring activities, and an updated analytical method to measure PFAS.

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