Source: PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE, 2/22/18

Meeting Information:
Summary of Meeting Purpose
Water used during the production of fruits and vegetables represents a potential pathway for contamination with human pathogens. In the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), microbial quality standards were established for agricultural water that comes in contact with produce to reduce risks associated with agricultural water use. However, FDA received feedback from numerous stakeholders raising concerns that some of these standards may be too complex to understand and too difficult to implement. In response to these concerns, FDA is considering how to address these issues by exploring ways to simplify the PSR standards related to agricultural water.

The two-day Water Summit is an engagement opportunity for growers, regulatory personal, industry representatives, educators, and researchers to increase understanding and work collaboratively to develop ideas that support risk reduction related to water. This Water Summit will include informational presentations and breakout discussions. Participants will explore challenges related to the requirements of Subpart E – Agricultural Water and discuss potential solutions that are workable while still protecting public health.

Registration & Remote Options
Registration is now closed. Due to the logistics of facilitating this interactive Water Summit, space was limited to approximately 100 participants. In order to maintain a diversity of organizations and individuals represented at the meeting, we also limited registration to one individual per company/organization. If you were unable to register for the meeting in Covington, please consider participating through one of the following options.  After the meeting concludes, we will also provide a recording of the meeting on our website.