Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it was exploring ways to simplify the agricultural water standards established by the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) produce safety rule (PSR) after receiving feedback from stakeholders that some of the requirements are too complex to understand and implement.

FDA announced Tuesday its intention to extend the compliance dates for agricultural water requirements in the PSR (other than for sprouts). The FDA intends to extend the compliance dates using appropriate procedures at a later time and the length of the extension is under consideration.  

The FDA intends to use the extended time period to work with stakeholders as it considers the best approach to address their concerns while still protecting public health. The extended compliance dates will also give farms an opportunity to continue to review their practices, processes and procedures related to agricultural water and how it is used on their farms.  

Agricultural water can be a major conduit of pathogens that can contaminate produce, which is why FSMA’s produce safety rule sets microbial quality standards for agricultural water, including irrigation water that comes into contact with produce. FDA remains committed to protecting public health while implementing rules that are workable across the diversity of the food industry.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R., Texas) welcomed the delay. ““Producers need additional time to come into compliance with FSMA’s produce safety rules, and I commend the FDA for providing this needed flexibility. I’ve heard from many farmers concerned with the rules and struggling to figure out how and when they have to comply with FSMA rules and regulations. This extension provides producers the time necessary to come into compliance while still protecting public health.”

Conaway expressed appreciation to the Trump administration’s commitment to taking a hard look at controversial rules like this one. “I hope that upon further review of the unintended consequences of these costly rules and continued communications with the farmers and ranchers affected by them, FDA can work with stakeholders to swiftly address their concerns,”  he added.