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• Draft Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (October 2018)
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Produce (October 2018)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• Draft Guidance for Industry: Compliance with and Recommendations for Implementation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human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)