About
The California Produce Safety Program is a unit operating under the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Inspection Services Division. It exists to help bring California produce farms into compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Produce Safety Rule.
Implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in California includes on-farm inspections to verify compliance.
The Produce Safety Program is working to make sure California produce farmers understand the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule by providing a host of resources available on this website.
In 2019 CDFA's Produce Safety Program began conducting on-farm inspections to verify compliance with the Produce Safety Rule. The program continues this work as more farms are brought under the Produce Safety Rule compliance structure. All farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule are required to be compliant as of January 2020.
Our Core Value = Educate Then Regulate
The California Produce Safety Program’s role is to educate California produce farmers on how to comply with the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule and then regulate farms to ensure they are in compliance with this new law.
Our Vision = Safe Produce Through 100% Compliance with the Law
It is our goal for Produce Safety Rule requirements to become ingrained in the culture of California produce farming so that our state continues to grow the safest produce possible.
Why is the produce safety rule important to California produce farmers? |
Toggle section "Why is the produce safety rule important to California produce farmers?" |
The Produce Safety Rule is now law for all produce farms in the U.S. and farmers are obligated to follow the law.
Produce farmers put food safety first. Following required food safety practices on your farm is the right thing to do.
The Produce Safety Program’s priority is to educate farmers on how to comply with the Produce Safety Rule. Inspectors are authorized to take a variety of actions when farms are found to be out of compliance with the Rule, beginning with on-site education.
Any farm that does not comply with the Produce Safety Rule may face economic, regulatory and legal consequences. Minor violations will be handled through on-site education, in line with an “Educate Then Regulate” commitment. However, if there is significant and imminent threat to public health, a PSP inspector will inform the FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which may perform accelerated on-farm follow-up inspections or administrative detention orders up to and including seizure of the product that could cause people to get sick.
Who is responsible for implementing the produce safety rule? |
Toggle section "Who is responsible for implementing the produce safety rule?" |
Federal and state government agencies are working together to implement this new regulation throughout the U.S.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with State Departments of Agriculture, provides oversight and verifies compliance with the Produce Safety Rule.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is responsible for hiring and training produce safety inspectors and other Produce Safety Program staff to carry out Produce Safety Rule education and on-farm inspections.
The California Department of Public Health continues to serve in its role to ensure the safety of California’s food supply. If a CDFA Produce Safety Program inspector believes there is a significant and imminent threat to public health on a produce farm, they will inform CDPH of the situation for evaluation and potential regulatory action.
Who must follow the produce safety rule? |
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Most California fruit, vegetable and nut farms are subject to regulations under the Produce Safety Rule. However, some produce items are exempt from regulations under the Produce Safety Rule.
All farms with more than $25,000 in average annual produce sales (averaged over the previous three-year period) are required to comply with the Produce Safety Rule. Farms with less than $25,000 in average annual sales in produce (averaged over the previous three-year period) or who grow produce only for personal consumption or limited distribution are exempt from the Produce Safety Rule.
Multiple rules exist within the federal Food Safety Modernization Act. The exact rule your farm falls under will vary depending the type of business you operate. To determine if your operation falls under the Produce Safety Rule, please see this flow chart.
Exceptions:
Produce Not Covered by the Produce Safety Rule
A list of exemptions from the Produce Safety Rule can be found here
For more information, please also see FDA’s website
For more information on current price index for farm size, please also see FDA’s website
What is the Farmer Questionnaire? |
Toggle section "What is the Farmer Questionnaire?" |
Produce Safety Program has developed an online questionnaire to help gather information on the coverage status of California agricultural operations under the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule. Please take the time to fill out this questionnaire to help ensure our records for your farm are up-to-date and accurate. Learn more.
