Last year, Congress passed the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, requiring ALL food-handling facilities to register by December 12, 2003.
That is less than two months from now. Also, any changes in the management or operation of your facilities must be updated regularly with the FDA. Just what you have been waiting for; another filing and registration chore!
Glades Crop Care is uniquely positioned to help you comply with this new law. We are equipped to handle all of the registration requirements for you, freeing you from another legislative and paper work chore that only dilutes your efforts in running your business!
If you allow Glades Crop Care to manage this registration process for you, we will:
- Provide you your unique registration number(s);
- Alert you if the FDA alters their registration requirements;
- Maintain an Information Updating System in the event your registration information requires updating;
- Update your FDA registration within the required 30 days, whenever necessary.
Glades Crop Care will provide this valuable service for your facility, including any required updates for one (1) year for $335.00, or less than $1.00 per day. This is a one-time fee! If you are registering three or more facilities, a discounted fee program is available.
The FDA has an online registration system available, which is now free for registration purposes. However, Glades Crop Care is providing you with a worry-free service to handle all of these new legislative and burdensome requirements. In fact we can do your entire registration over the telephone!
Please call us at 561-746-3740, or email Craig Mowrey. Complying with varied legislative mandates and federal regulations is one of the functions of our business. We do look forward to relieving you of this filing and registration burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have to register?
All facilities that pack food, process food, or even hold food in warehouses must register. Farms and restaurants are exempted from this requirement, but any "facility" that sells food to another commercial enterprise must be registered. For example, a farm that only sells produce directly would be exempt, but a farm that holds produce in a cold box for delivery to a distribution center, a brokerage, or a restaurant must register.
Why should I pay Glades Crop Care to help me register?
First, we know farmers - we've been advising growers for 30 years, and we can help you get your registration right the first time. You deserve a partner who knows agriculture in this effort.
Second, you will not have to submit a registration - WE will do the Internet registration for you. Other outfits only accept an online registration, so you would still wind up registering online.
Third, the one-time fee includes 12 months of follow-up: news of any rule changes, reminders to tell us if you change management or operation information, and registration updates are all included in the price. Other outfits may only give you reminders to update your own registration.
Fourth, you can submit a paper registration directly to the FDA, but if you leave a required element blank, it could take months before the FDA tells you that your submission was not accepted. The FDA expects to receive over 400,000 registrations in a two-month period - if yours gets lost in the shuffle, see "What if I just ignore this?" below.
Fifth, we maintain a record of your application, giving you third-party verification of your submission.
What if the FDA changes the reporting requirements?
If the FDA imposes additional reporting requirements, Glades Crop Ca re will contact you requesting the newly required information. You don't have to try to stay "up-to-date" on the current status of the FDA's requirements; we do it for you.
Is my food registration information available to the public?
No. Registration forms submitted under this regulation, and any information contained in those forms that would disclose the identity or location of a specific registered person, is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
What if I just ignore this?
Failure to register is a "prohibited act." The United States can bring a criminal action in Federal court to prosecute persons who commit a prohibited act. Best case - you won't have a registration number for your buyers. Worst case -impounded produce, fines, incarceration….
Too much paperwork? Let us take care of this piece, and keep you legal.
