Foreign Supplier Verification Program: Roaster Responsibilities

As most of the recipients of this email are likely already aware, the requirements of the Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA) have slowly been working their way through the system and now apply to importers. Importers fall under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) portion of FSMA.  FSVP in its simplest form, requires that the same food safety controls be placed on foreign suppliers as those put on domestic suppliers. In the case of green coffee and other similar Raw Agricultural Commodities (RAC), the requirements have been simplified, based upon the need for further processing prior to consumption.

In accordance with 21 CFR 1.504, Intercontinental Coffee Trading has conducted a hazard analysis of the green coffee that we supply and have determined that there are a few hazards that require control prior to consumption by roasters.  We will be taking the necessary steps to comply with the FSVP program. Please take the 2-3 minutes it takes to read the disclosure below, and make yourself aware of the regulations as they have been interpreted to date.

As always, we are here to answer questions and to help you get through your inspections.

References:
Food and Drug Administration: “Guidance for Industry: Application of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program Regulation to Importers of Grain Raw Agricultural Commodities” 

Respectfully,

Steve von Kolkow
Traffic/Logistics Manager