Produce & Plant Products Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information
Guidance documents contain nonbinding recommendations
For information related to Produce Safety Standards under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), see FSMA Produce Safety Standards.
Produce
- FSMA Final Rule for Produce Safety
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (October 2018)
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Produce (October 2018)
- Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption: What You Need to Know About the FDA Regulation - Small Entity Compliance Guide (September 2017)
- Draft Guidance for Industry: Compliance with and Recommendations for Implementation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption for Sprout Operations (January 2017)
- Questions and Answers on FDA’s Proposed Commodity-Specific Guidances (CSGs)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Tomatoes (July 2009)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Melons (July 2009)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Leafy Greens (July 2009)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (October 26, 1998)
(Also available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic*) - Final Guidance: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables (February 2008)
- Microbiological Safety Evaluations and Recommendations on Sprouted Seed (May 1999)
Nuts
- Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Pistachio-Derived Product As An Ingredient (June 2009)
- Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Peanut-Derived Product as an Ingredient (March 2009)
Industry Guidance in Collaboration with FDA
- How to Work with FDA on Food Guidance Documents (January 31, 2017)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Storage, and Packing of Potatoes (June 17, 2013) (PDF - 7325KB)
- Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for Cantaloupes and Netted Melons (March 29, 2013) (PDF - 4.77MB)
- También disponible en Español (PDF - 2.07MB)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Processing Unit Operations of Fresh Culinary Herbs (January 24, 2013) (PDF - 7.34MB)
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Valued-Added Unit Operations of Green Onions February 26, 2010
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain, 1st Edition November 7, 2005
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain, 2nd Edition July 2008
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce and Leafy Greens Supply Chain, 1st Edition April 25, 2006
FDA Letters to Industry
- Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh Cantaloupe (November 2011)
- Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, or Ship Fresh Cilantro (March 2011)
- Letter to Seed Suppliers, Distributors, and Sprouters (May 2009)
- Letter To California Firms that Grow, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh and Fresh-cut Lettuce November 4, 2005
- Letter To Firms that Grow, Pack, or Ship Fresh Lettuce and Fresh Tomatoes February 5, 2004
Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce
- FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce - Domestic Produce Assignment (DFP # 05-20) August 3, 2005
- FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce - FY 2000/2001 Field Assignment January 2003
- Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce: Interim Results as of June 30, 2001
- Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey Enforcement Plan July 28, 2000
- Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey August 10, 2000
- Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey May 19, 2000
Survey of Imported Fresh Produce
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - Import Produce Assignment (DFP # 05-16) March 18, 2005
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - FY 2001 Field Assignment January 18, 2001 (DOEP # 01-07)
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - FY 1999 Field Assignment (Survey results - January 30, 2001)
- FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce, November 1, 1999 (REVISED Imported Produce Assignment - FY 99 DOEP # 99-4)