Does FSMA Still Apply in 2025?

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the most significant reform of U.S. food safety laws in over 70 years. Signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011, FSMA shifted the focus of food safety from responding to contamination to preventing it. The FDA estimates that approximately 48 million Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.​ So, in 2025, does FSMA still apply to food processing best practices?

First, let’s look at the seven foundational rules impacting both human and animal food producers, as well as importers. These rules require the development and implementation of preventive control plans and establish new inspection guidelines.​

The 7 Rules of FSMA

  1. Preventive Controls for Human Food: Requires food facilities to have safety plans detailing how they will identify and minimize hazards.
  2. Preventive Controls for Animal Food: Establishes Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) and preventive controls for animal food.
  3. Produce Safety: Establishes science-based standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce on both domestic and foreign farms.
  4. Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP): Requires importers to verify that food brought into the country has been produced in a way that meets U.S. food safety standards.
  5. Third-Party Certification: Establishes a program where qualified third parties can certify foreign food facilities comply with U.S. food safety standards.
  6. Sanitary Transportation: Requires food transporters to use sanitary processes to ensure food safety.
  7. Food Defense/Intentional Adulteration: Requires both foreign and domestic food facilities to address vulnerable steps in their processes to prevent acts intended to cause large-scale public harm.​

FSMA Compliance Dates

Compliance dates for various FSMA requirements are staggered and depend on the size and type of business. The FDA has provided detailed compliance dates for each rule, which can be found on their official website. ​U.S. Food and Drug Administration

In 2025, the FDA announced a 30-month delay for compliance with FSMA Rule 204, which mandates enhanced traceability requirements for high-risk foods. The new compliance date is now January 2026. ​Produce Trends Directory

Recent Developments in FSMA

  • FSMA Rule 204 – Enhanced Traceability: The FDA has extended the compliance date for this rule by 30 months, now set for January 2026. This rule requires enhanced traceability for high-risk foods to improve the effectiveness of recalls and outbreaks. ​
  • FSMA Rule 204 – Compliance Date Extension: On January 20, 2025, the FDA announced a 30-month extension for the compliance date of FSMA Rule 204, moving it to July 2027. ​Produce Trends Directory

Additional Resources on FSMA

For more information on FSMA and how it applies to your business, consider the following resources:

How a BFM® Fitting Can Support FSMA Compliance

One often-overlooked area in FSMA compliance—especially under the Preventive Controls and Sanitary Transportation rules—is the potential for cross-contamination and hygiene failures at connection points in food processing equipment. This is where the BFM® fitting flexible connector can be a smart, FSMA-aligned solution.

BFM® fittings are snap-in, tool-free flexible connectors made from 3A-certified, FDA-compliant materials. Their unique design eliminates crevices and ledges where product build-up and bacteria can accumulate—key concerns for facilities required to meet stringent sanitary design and cleanliness standards.

Here’s how BFM® fittings support FSMA goals:

  • Improved Cleanability: Their smooth, crevice-free interior allows for more thorough and faster cleaning, aligning with FSMA’s focus on preventive controls and sanitation.
  • Tool-Free Changeouts: Connectors can be removed and replaced in seconds without tools, reducing downtime and helping meet sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs).
  • Traceability and Validation: BFM® fittings offer optional RFID tagging and can support documentation of cleaning cycles, aiding in compliance tracking and audits.
  • Minimized Cross-Contamination: Because the connectors are fully sealed, they help prevent leaks and dust escapes that could lead to product cross-contamination—critical under FSMA’s hygiene and allergen control provisions.

For facilities processing powders, granules, or bulk solids, upgrading to BFM® fittings may not only streamline operations but also help demonstrate proactive food safety measures—central to FSMA’s preventive, risk-based approach.

If you need assistance with understanding how FSMA applies to your specific business or require guidance on compliance strategies, feel free to reach out here!