The final rule Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (PSR) became effective on November 13, 2015. The Produce Safety Rule establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.
FDA defines two types of farms: Primary Production Farms and Secondary Activities Farms. A Primary Production Farm is an operation under one management in one location that grows and harvests crops and/or raises animals (including seafood). A Secondary Activities Farm is an operation, located elsewhere, that harvests (i.e. hulling or shelling nuts), packs, and/or holds raw agricultural commodities, provided that the Primary Production Farm that produces the products owns, or jointly owns, a majority interest in the Secondary Activities Farm.
Operations conducting additional activities may qualify as facilities, and may have to register with FDA and comply with additional FSMA regulations. For more information regarding facilities, please visit our FSMA for Facilities page.
Compliance dates for the Produce Safety Rule are staggered and based on the size of the operation; for more information view this slide from the Produce Safety Alliance.
QCS Guidance Materials
FDA Guidance Materials
More guidance materials and full-text copies of the FSMA Final Rules can be downloaded from the FDA FSMA Rules & Guidance for Industry page.
Agricultural Water and the Produce Safety Rule
These tools were developed by UC Davis to make it easy to calculate the GM and STV and to determine if your water meets the criteria for appropriate application to produce before harvest. Please, always check their site for updates here.