With certain provisions of the FDA’s Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) now in effect, like the preventive controls rule, FDA inspectors are changing their approach to food plant inspections.

This week AIB International launched its FDA Preparedness Inspection to help US food companies, as well as those exporting to the US, measure their regulatory readiness before an FDA inspector arrives. The one-day inspection simulates an FDA inspection based on the new regulatory requirements. Food and beverage manufacturers, warehouses, and distribution centers can find out if they are prepared for their next FDA inspection and gauge if their own employees are following established policies for handling regulatory inspections.

“Having AIB’s inspector conduct some of the same new procedures that the FDA may follow was a beneficial learning experience for our team,” said Alicia Pullings, Quality Compliance Manager for Gonnella Baking Company. “Our FDA Preparedness Inspection helped us measure how we’re applying FSMA requirements in our plant,” said Pullings.

FSMA is the biggest change in US food regulations since 1938. The Act impacts the entire global food suppply chain and includes new regulations for preventive controls, produce safety, food defense, foreign supplier verification, facility registration, and sanitary food transportation.