The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed phasing out ethylene oxide (EtO) use on spices and subsequently canceling the tolerances for spices, resulting in a potential future ban of imported spices with EtO residues in the U.S. In this session provided at the 2023 Regulatory Workshop held in Washington DC, panelists from agencies and academia discussed updates on EPA’s proposed ETO actions and the safety of spices. EPA officials shared an update on their actions, and panelists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and non-governmental and academic institutions discussed EPA’s proposals and the potential impact on the safety of spices. This was the presentation provided by Michelle Ranville, USDA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the long-anticipated revised draft “Appendix 1” of the multi-chapter draft guidance for industry titled Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry on January 30, 2024. Since the initial publication of “Appendix 1”, many food industry groups, including ASTA, advocated for FDA to update the guidance to make corrections, reflect the latest scientific evidence, and minimize confusion and inconsistencies. The updated draft includes a number of notable revisions to potential hazards in spices and seasonings and guidance on hazard analysis for spices, including several updates that were requested by ASTA. The “Appendix 1” guidance has significant implications for FDA food facility inspections, as it is used as a key reference by inspectors. This 45-minute webinar provides the latest updates on how they may impact your food safety plan and facility inspections.