By now we have seen drastic changes to every aspect of food trade due to the pandemic. Mr. England, a 17-year veteran of FDA, together with Mr. Ravitch, an FSVP, Food Safety Regulation, and Import Compliance Subject Matter Expert, will discuss the lessons learned and current environment related to the impact of COVID-19 on the food industry and international trade community. They will cover broken supply chains, updating supply chain prerequisites, and assessing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance in this virtual world.
They will talk through adjustments FDA has made to their compliance and enforcement procedures during the pandemic. Examples include, a reduction of most in-person inspections and the utilization of virtual inspections for the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) to assure foreign suppliers are in compliance with Risk-Based Food Safety Programs as required by FSMA. The virtual inspections hold the same enforcement authority as on-site inspections which can result in warning letters and the addition to Import Alerts.
Additionally, they will survey Continuity of Operations and disruptions in your supply chain and end with predictions on how the continuing pandemic will impact ongoing food trade operations as well as lessons learned on how to prepare for possible future events.