Produce & Plant Products Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information
Guidance documents contain nonbinding recommendations
For information related to Produce Safety Standards under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), see FSMA Final Rule for Produce Safety.
Produce
- Temporary Policy During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Regarding the Qualified Exemption from the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (May 2020)
- FSMA Final Rule for Produce Safety
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting (June 2019)
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Evaluating Alternate Curricula for the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (June 2019)
- Enforcement Policy for Entities Growing, Harvesting, Packing, or Holding Hops, Wine Grapes, Pulse Crops, and Almonds (March 2019)
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (October 2018)
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Produce (October 2018)
- Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption: What You Need to Know About the FDA Regulation - Small Entity Compliance Guide (September 2017)
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Compliance with and Recommendations for Implementation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption for Sprout Operations (January 2017)
- Questions and Answers on FDA’s Proposed Commodity-Specific Guidances (CSGs)
- Draft Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (October 1998)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables (February 2008)
- Microbiological Safety Evaluations and Recommendations on Sprouted Seed (May 1999)
Nuts
- Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Pistachio-Derived Product As An Ingredient (June 2009)
- Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Peanut-Derived Product as an Ingredient (March 2009)
Industry Guidance in Collaboration with FDA
- How to Work with FDA on Food Guidance Documents (January 2017)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Storage, and Packing of Potatoes (June 2013) (PDF - 7325KB)
- Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for Cantaloupes and Netted Melons (March 29, 2013) (PDF - 4.77MB)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Processing Unit Operations of Fresh Culinary Herbs (January 2013) (PDF - 7.34MB)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Valued-Added Unit Operations of Green Onions (February 2010)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain, 1st Edition (November 2005)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain, 3rd Edition (September 2018)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce and Leafy Greens Supply Chain, 1st Edition (April 2006)
FDA Letters to Industry
- Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh Cantaloupe (November 2011)
- Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, or Ship Fresh Cilantro (March 2011)
- Letter to Seed Suppliers, Distributors, and Sprouters (May 2009)
- Letter To California Firms that Grow, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh and Fresh-cut Lettuce (November 2005)
- Letter To Firms that Grow, Pack, or Ship Fresh Lettuce and Fresh Tomatoes (February 2004)
Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce
- FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce - Domestic Produce Assignment (DFP # 05-20) (August 2005)
- FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce - FY 2000/2001 Field Assignment (January 2003)
- Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce: Interim Results as of June 30, 2001
- Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey Enforcement Plan (July 2000)
- Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey (August 2000)
- Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey (May 2000)
Survey of Imported Fresh Produce
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - Import Produce Assignment (DFP # 05-16) (March 2005)
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - FY 2001 Field Assignment (DOEP # 01-07) (January 2001)
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - FY 1999 Field Assignment (Survey Results (January 2001)
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce, November 1, 1999 (REVISED Imported Produce Assignment - FY 99 DOEP # 99-4)
Research
Sub-Topic Paragraphs
Paragraph Header
Contact the CFSAN Produce Safety Staff
Paragraph Header
Contact the CFSAN Produce Safety Staff
Contact Point
Produce Safety Staff
CFSAN Office of Food Safety (HFS-317)
Food and Drug Administration
5001 Campus Dr
College Park, MD 20740
CFSAN Office of Food Safety (HFS-317)
Food and Drug Administration
5001 Campus Dr
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 436-1700
Fax
(301) 436-2651
Hours Available
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)