The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported the extension of the public comment period for the Traceability Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

The original comment period was January 21, 2021; now being established as a new new date on February 22, 2021.

In addition, FDA noted that, while the comment period for the part of the traceability rule related to the information collection provisions closed on November 23, it has been reopened, with a deadline also for February 22.

FDA published Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods on September 23, establishing a 60-day comment period for the information collection provisions and a 120-day comment period for the general rule.

In that framework, the FDA changed the timelines after interested parties raised concerns about having more time available to properly discuss the information collection provisions in the context of the entire proposed rule, according to an FDA notice.