SALEM, Ore. — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will resume Produce Safety Rule inspections under the Food Safety Modernization Act in Oregon. Oregon operations may receive a phone call from the FDA requesting to schedule an inspection as early as June, 2021. FDA will discuss their COVID-19 protocols with the farm when they call.
Inspections started nationwide in 2019 on the largest U.S. produce farms, and large foreign farms that export to the U.S. Inspections were put on hold in 2020 due to COVID-19. All farm sizes are subject to routine inspections in 2021. However, large farms not inspected in 2019 will be prioritized over small and very small farms.
- Large farms (called “other businesses” by FDA) are those that, on a rolling basis, have an average of more than $500,000 in produce sales over the last three years.
- Small farms are those that, on a rolling basis, have an average of more than $250,000 and less than $500,000 in produce sales over the last three years.
- Very small farms are those that, on a rolling basis, have an average of more than $25,000* and less than $250,000 in produce sales over the last three years.
- *This number is adjusted for inflation each year.
Visit ODA’s Produce Safety Rule Decision Tree to assess your farm’s coverage under the rule.
Need help preparing for an inspection?
On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs) are free and voluntary. These educational, confidential visits help farmers identify an operation’s strengths and weaknesses relative to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.
Reviewers are well-versed in the Produce Safety Rule and will only cover the portions of the rule that apply to the operation. During COVID-19 these visits can be done remotely.
Email the produce safety team or call 503-986-4620 for more information.
— Oregon Department of Agriculture
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