FDA Establishes Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Changes

(World Trade Interactive)

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule establishing January 2, 2012, as the uniform compliance date for all final FDA food labeling regulations issued between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010, that require changes in the labeling of food products. The FDA is taking this action to minimize the economic impact of labeling changes by allowing sufficient lead time to plan for the use of existing label inventories and the development of new labeling materials.

The FDA states that this action is not intended to change existing requirements for compliance dates contained in final rules issued before January 1, 2009. As a result, all final FDA regulations published in the Federal Register before that date will still go into effect on the date stated in the respective final rule. However, when industry members voluntarily change their labels, it is appropriate that they incorporate any new requirements that have been published as final regulations up to that time.

Comments on this rule, including whether to modify or revoke this uniform compliance date, are due by February 23, 2009.