This is the fourth and final article in our series about FSMA and food safety based on interviews with Carrie Hayden, President of Perry Johnson Food Safety Consulting, and several members of Perry Johnson's training and implementation teams.

In the previous articles in the series, we explored challenges and misconceptions about FSMA, as well as outlined some steps to help companies start meeting the new regulations. This post identifies four resources you can turn to for help along your compliance journey.

The FDA

The FDA has a wealth of information about FSMA and how to develop a food safety plan at a facility. Check out the pages below:

• FSMA Rules & Guidance for Industry. Here you'll find the final versions of all seven of the FSMA rules. Click on any rule for summaries, fact sheets, and other resources.
• Resources for You: Food Industry. This page is a hub for many other resources, including links related to food defense, imports, labeling, and much more.
• Industry and Regulatory Assistance and Training Resources. This page contains training materials on a variety of topics, such as personal hygiene for food industry employees.

Trade associations

Through their extensive networks and education programs, trade associations like FPSA can provide companies with information and technical assistance to meet FSMA requirements.

Visit the FPSA website for more information.

Training courses

The best way to adopt FSMA and maintain compliance is to attend a course designed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA). The course is taught by an instructor who has taken the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food instructor training and covers a standardized curriculum that recognized by the FDA.

As an added benefit, when you take the course, you will receive a guide that outlines a step-by-step process for developing a food safety plan that you can adapt to your particular facility.

Third-party consultant and auditors

FSMA compliance is a large undertaking, and many companies simply don't have the in-house knowledge and resources to go it alone. If you're one of them, consider engaging a third-party consultant to help you dot your i's and cross your t's.

Perry Johnson is a recognized leader in helping organizations attain certifications to various compliance standards. They not only offer training and provide guidance, but will actually roll up their sleeves and help you develop documentation, which is a service not many food safety consultants provide.

They've also developed proprietary tools, such as a checklist to compare companies' systems to the regulations. And they can provide implementation and auditing services to help you assure compliance.

Visit Perry Johnson's website to learn more about their food safety training and consulting services. You can also contact Carrie Hayden directly at chayden@pjfsc.com.