FDA on the close of GAPs comment period

I asked Sebastian Cianci of FDA about the Dec. 31 close of the comment period on revisions to fruit and vegetable GAPs guidelines. Here is his response:

On Sept. 2, 2008, FDA posted a request for comments on the Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. This document is available through www.regulations.gov (http://tinyurl.com/7nte52). Under Good Guidance Practices, comments on guidance may be submitted at any time. However, FDA requested comments by December 31, 2008 to ensure receipt in time for consideration. FDA received 22 unique comments from 21 organizations and individuals. All comments are currently under review, as possible improvements to the Guide are considered.