1. Home
  2. Food
  3. News & Events from HFP
  4. HFP Constituent Updates
  5. FDA Establishes Regulatory Program Standards to Strengthen Produce Safety Oversight Activities with States
  1. HFP Constituent Updates

FDA Establishes Regulatory Program Standards to Strengthen Produce Safety Oversight Activities with States

Constituent Update

February 24, 2026

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and state produce inspection programs, is announcing the establishment of new regulatory program standards for produce. The Produce Regulatory Program Standards (PRPS) provide a uniform foundation across government produce regulators and are critical to advancing an integrated food safety system that leverages the collaboration and resources among federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to protect public health.

Improving the safety of fruits and vegetables is a priority for FDA given that vegetables and fruits are essential components of a nutrient-dense, whole foods diet, as emphasized in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Serving to advance produce safety, the establishment of the PRPS provides a consistent framework for government agencies who have regulatory oversight and responsibility over their respective jurisdiction’s farms, produce commodities, and activities covered under the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule.  

The PRPS are the latest regulatory program standards to be developed as part of a standards framework that is comprised of best practices related to prevention, intervention, and response activities. Other regulatory program standards exist for manufactured food, animal food, eggs, and retail food safety. The use of the PRPS may:

  • Enhance capacities of produce regulatory programs,  
  • Promote program consistency and workforce training, furthering an Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS),  
  • Assist programs in developing risk-based inspection and sampling protocols, and  
  • Provide a mechanism to build a quality management system to measure performance improvement and accountability.

By achieving full conformance with these standards, federal and state programs will be better equipped to reduce illness and outbreaks related to produce.  

For more information, visit Produce Regulatory Program Standards (PRPS).

Back to Top