We’ve put together a list of documents and organizations that might be helpful as you develop a food safety plan, in addition to the resources our team offers.

NC State Extension

NC State Extension is creating resources to help companies comply with food and feed safety regulations.

We keep the NC State Feed Milling Program website up to date with newly identified hazards, guidance documents from FDA and public information from trade associations. We highlight our new resources, too. Subscribe to our site for all our updates via email every Wednesday!

• How Animal Food Facilities Can Prepare for Regulatory Inspections
• FSMA Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) Exemption Decision Tree Tool
• Guide to Writing PCAF food safety plans
• CGMP Self-Audit checklist

FDA

The FDA regularly provides information updates and guidance documents regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act and Animal Food.

Some useful resources include

• FDA Technical Assistance Network (TAN)
  Use this portal for FSMA-specific questions
• Get FDA email updates
  Use the subscribe to email updates button to stay up to date on FDA information and guidance
• FDA Animal Food Recall List
  The recall list is helpful in figuring out common food safety hazards in different types of animal food. The list may provide you with ideas for known or reasonably foreseeable hazards that may need to be added to your hazard analysis.
• FDA Reportable Food Registry
  Hazards that are severe enough to cause significant illness or death to humans or animals must be reported to the Reportable Food Registry. This is another useful resource to reference while building your hazard analysis.
• The Safe Animal Feed (5:11) video emphasizes the role animal food manufacturers play in maintaining a safe food supply in the United States.

Help from the FDA

You can send questions to the FDA about FSMA using their Technical Assistance Network (TAN).

The FDA released a question and answer article in 2018, with insights about what to expect from PCAF.

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) has produced the only Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification course for animal food recognized by the FDA.

NC State Extension offers the FSPCA PCQI training. For more information, contact Marissa Herchler Cohen.

For a complete list of courses currently offered by FSPCA, visit their course list.

They provide resources regarding the animal and human food rules, as well as information regarding both PCQI and lead instructor training courses. Participant manuals are free online through FSPCA.

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) has released a blended learning option for the Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) Course. The online modules were developed by the FSPCA to expand learning opportunities to those who may not be able to attend a two-and-a-half-day training.

The blended course allows participants to complete much of the material online prior to attending an eight-hour instructor-led course.

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) has announced the release of their online CGMP for Animal Food Course. The course is fully online and addresses the CGMP component of the PCAF rule.

The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance additional resources page has a limited amount of resources for animal food, but many guidance documents are linked on this page and there are blank food safety plan templates for use.

Other organizations

Other useful resources come from the

• American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)
  The AFIA is a national organization for feed manufacturers. They provide training resources, networking and continuing education opportunities, and relevant regulatory updates to their members. Select information is also available for the public.
• National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA)
  The NGFA is a national organization for grain, feed, and related commercial businesses. They provide networking and continuing education opportunities, as well as regulatory updates to their members. There are also opportunities for the public.
• Pet Food Institute (PFI)
  The PFI is a national organization for pet food manufacturers. They provide relevant information to the industry and the public, as well as networking and continuing education opportunities and regulatory updates. Select information is also available publicly.
• North American Renderers Association (NARA)
  The NARA is a national organization for renderers. They provide relevant information to the North American rendering industries, as well as networking and continuing education opportunities, and regulatory updates. Select information is available to the public.

For additional information contact

Marissa Herchler Cohen
NC State University
Cooperative Extension Service
Prestage Department of Poultry Science
234 D Scott Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695-7608

E-mail: marissa_cohen@ncsu.edu
Phone: +1 919.515.5396