- FDA will host a virtual public meeting on the implementation of the Food Traceability Rule on June 15, 2026. The meeting is intended to “give the public an opportunity to share information on implementation of the Food Traceability Rule and areas of remaining concern.”
- FDA’s final Food Traceability Rule will require anyone who manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food on the Agency’s Food Traceability List to maintain key data elements for certain critical tracking events in the food’s supply chain. The rule is intended to “allow for faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and deaths.”
- The final rule’s original compliance date of January 20, 2026, has been pushed back to July 20, 2028. As part of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act of 2026, FDA is required to engage each quarter with regulated entities to identify additional flexibilities for the Food Traceability Rule’s lot-level tracking requirement.
- FDA will accept public comments at the meeting from participants who register by June 5, 2026, and indicate via the registration form that they would like to speak during the public comment period. FDA intends to open a docket folder and issue additional materials before the meeting. The registration form is available on the meeting webpage.
- Keller and Heckman can help determine whether your facility will be subject to the Food Traceability Rule and would be happy to assist in preparing public comments.