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  1. Retail Food Protection

Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards

 

The Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards) define what constitutes a highly effective and responsive program for the regulation of foodservice and retail food establishments.

They begin by providing a foundation and system upon which all regulatory programs can build through a continuous improvement process. The Retail Program Standards encourage regulatory agencies to improve and build upon existing programs. Further, they provide a framework designed to accommodate both traditional and emerging approaches to food safety.

The Retail Program Standards are intended to reinforce proper sanitation (good retail practices) and operational and environmental prerequisite programs while encouraging regulatory agencies and industry to focus on the factors that cause and contribute to foodborne illness, with the ultimate goal of reducing the occurrence of those factors. In support of this goal, FDA works cooperatively with our state, local, territorial and tribal partners using a risk-based approach to leverage limited resources. The Retail Program Standards represent an important component of a comprehensive strategic approach to help ensure the safety and security of the food supply at the retail level.

2022 Retail Program Standards and Worksheets

If you have questions about the Retail Program Standards, please contact an FDA Retail Food Specialist.

Who is enrolled? 

Listing of Jurisdictions Enrolled in the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards provides information about jurisdictions that have enrolled in the Retail Program Standards. The information is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect new enrollments, as well as to recognize achievements made by current enrollees. If you have questions about the enrollment information on this page, please contact retailfoodprotectionteam@fda.hhs.gov.

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