Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards
The Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards) define what constitutes a highly effective and responsive program for the regulation of foodservice and retail food establishments.
They begin by providing a foundation and system upon which all regulatory programs can build through a continuous improvement process. The Retail Program Standards encourage regulatory agencies to improve and build upon existing programs. Further, they provide a framework designed to accommodate both traditional and emerging approaches to food safety.
The Retail Program Standards are intended to reinforce proper sanitation (good retail practices) and operational and environmental prerequisite programs while encouraging regulatory agencies and industry to focus on the factors that cause and contribute to foodborne illness, with the ultimate goal of reducing the occurrence of those factors. In support of this goal, FDA works cooperatively with our state, local, territorial and tribal partners using a risk-based approach to leverage limited resources. The Retail Program Standards represent an important component of a comprehensive strategic approach to help ensure the safety and security of the food supply at the retail level.
2022 Retail Program Standards and Worksheets
If you have questions about the Retail Program Standards, please contact an FDA Retail Food Specialist.
Who is enrolled?
Listing of Jurisdictions Enrolled in the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards provides information about jurisdictions that have enrolled in the Retail Program Standards. The information is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect new enrollments, as well as to recognize achievements made by current enrollees. If you have questions about the enrollment information on this page, please contact retailfoodprotectionteam@fda.hhs.gov.
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Crosswalk on Public Health Accreditation and Retail Program Standards
This document provides an overview of the similarities between the Retail Program Standards and the PHAB accreditation process and details the connections between the criteria that apply within each initiative. The detailed crosswalk provides specific examples of where documentation generated when implementing the Retail Program Standards can be used to satisfy documentation requirements associated with the accreditation process. This document will assist those who pursue conformance with the Retail Program Standards and PHAB Accreditation concurrently, without duplicating resources or effort. -
Fact Sheet: Accomplishments of the FDA and NACCHO Retail Program Standards Mentorship Program
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Egg Regulatory Program Standards (ERPS)
The Egg Regulatory Program Standards provide a framework for state programs with responsibility for oversight of eggs and egg products. The program standards are designed to integrate the regulatory activities of partner agencies into an efficient and effective process for improving egg safety in the U.S. -
Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS)
The feed standards establish a uniform foundation for the design and management of state programs responsible for the regulation of animal feed. -
Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS)
The Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards are a set of standards developed by the FDA, with input from state program managers, that can be used by the states as a guide for continuous improvement for state food manufacturing programs.
FDA Seminars
FDA's Office of State Cooperative Programs, Division of Retail Food Protection is excited to announce that the Retail Food Protection Seminars will be held in-person this year. In FY23, four seminars will be held in partnership with state regulatory and food safety associations partners from around the country. We encourage Retail Food Program Managers, Standardization Officers, regulators, academia and industry to attend to learn about current and emerging food safety initiatives and network with partners from regulatory, public health associations, academia and industry. We look forward to re-engaging with colleagues and friends.
The 2023 Retail Food Protection Seminar at Asheville, North Carolina
- July 26-28, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza-Asheville, Asheville, NC
- Partnership with the North Carolina Environmental Health State of Practice's (NCEHSOP) Annual Symposium.
- POC: Cameron Wiggins, Cameron.Wiggins@fda.hhs.gov
The 2023 Retail Food Protection Seminar at Portland, Oregon
- September 20-22, 2023 at Portland, OR (location TBD)
- Partnership with WAFDO (Western States Affiliate of AFDO)
- POC: Katey Kennedy, Katey.Kennedy@fda.hhs.gov
The 2023 Retail Food Protection Seminar at Northampton, Massachusetts
- September 19-22, 2023 at the Hotel Northampton, Northampton, MA.
- Partnership with NEFDOA (Northeast Food & Drug Officials Association) and the Yankee Conference, the New England affiliate of NEHA (National Environmental Health Association)
- POC: Steve Nattrass, Steven.Nattrass@fda.hhs.gov
The 2023 Retail Food Protection Seminar at Grand Rapids, Michigan
- October 4-6, 2023 at the Plaza Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI
- Partnership with the Michigan Association of Local Public Health (MALPH)
- POC: Jon Tran, Jonathan.Tran@fda.hhs.gov
FDA Workshops
- 2023 FDA Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards Self-Assessment and Verification Audit (SA/VA) Workshops
These workshops are designed to provide participants with an overview of the Retail Program Standards criteria and an in-depth understanding of the self-assessment and verification audit processes, worksheets, and forms.
ORAU Courses
- Self Assessment, Verification Audit (SA/VA) Series: Introduction and Administration
The Self-Assessment and Verification Audit Series consist of ten (10) self guided courses which provide relevant information and instruction for retail program enrollment or advancement in conformance with the FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards. The completion of this first course in the series is MANDATORY for access to all remaining nine(9) standards courses. All the retail program standard courses are independent self guided courses,. Participants may repeatedly access any or all of the nine retail standard courses as on-demand learning or refresher training. - Self Assessment, Verification Audit (SA/VA) Series Intro and Administration.
Contact FDA
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Inquiries: Submit Your Question
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration
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