Source: FDA, 1/27/22 To the Food and
Agriculture Industry, The FDA has been working
closely with the food industry and other government partners throughout the
pandemic to continuously monitor the impact of COVID-19. We understand the
severe impact the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic is having on the food and
agriculture industry, including the health and safety of workers and their
families. Labor shortages, transportation challenges, packaging shortages,
international import delays and severe weather continue to contribute to
disruptions in U.S. food supply chains that ultimately impact consumers. The FDA would like to
share information about access to assistance if you are experiencing supply
chain disruptions: Report
Supply Chain Problems/Request Assistance from the FDA Food facilities and farms
can continue to report a closure or a reduction in operations and/or request
assistance for a human food establishment regulated by the FDA, excluding
restaurant, retail food establishments, and animal food operations. Read the full guidance for additional information. Report Closure/Reduction and/or Request Assistance Food and
Agriculture Sector The Food and Agriculture
Sector Coordinating Council (SCC) serves as the primary private industry-led
policy coordination and planning entity to collaborate with the FDA, the US
Department of Agriculture, the US Department of Homeland Security and the Food
and Agriculture Government Coordinating Council (GCC), among others, to address
the entire range of critical infrastructure security and resilience activities
and sector-specific issues. If you wish to become
involved with, or are a member of the Food and Agriculture SCC, or if your food
firm/business is experiencing supply chain disruptions, you may contact the
chairman of the SCC, Clay Detlefsen, Esq., Senior Vice President, Environmental
and Regulatory Affairs & Staff Counsel; National Milk Producers Federation
at cdetlefsen@nmpf.org. Temporary
Policies The FDA has issued
temporary guidance to provide regulatory flexibility, where appropriate, to
help minimize the impact of supply chain disruptions on product availability
associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary policies
remain in effect. Details about each appear at the following links: Links to
Key Resources
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