- On August 6, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its proposal to extend the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule by 30 months to July 20, 2028. FDA stated that the extension is needed to allow full compliance across all regulated sectors.
- The final rule establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods that are on the Food Traceability List. The new requirements of the rule are intended to achieve faster identification and removal of contaminated food to better prevent foodborne illnesses and death.
- To achieve the full public health benefits of the rule, all covered entities of the supply chain must comply. FDA acknowledged that few entities would be able to meet the rule’s requirements by the initial January 2026 compliance date, partly because all members of the supply chain must be in full compliance in order to work with accurate data. The announcement stated that the “proposal is designed to afford covered entities the additional time necessary to ensure coordination between supply chain partners in order to fully implement the final rule’s requirements—ultimately providing the FDA and consumers with greater transparency and food safety.”
- Additionally, FDA issued new tools and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that address the Food Traceability Rule and help covered entities reach compliance. The rule’s webpage now has new FAQs, new examples of traceability plans, new supply chain examples, and At-A-Glance document on the rule, and new translated documents.
- Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor this proposal and relay new information.
