Sunflower exempt from FSMA produce rule

According to a recent press release by the National Sunflower Association, the Food and Drug Administration released the final Food Safety Modernization Act produce safety rule recently. When first released the rule was unclear whether sunflower would be exempt. NSA submitted detailed comments and held meetings with FDA to persuade them to exempt sunflower. NSA members and government officials from sunflower producing states worked diligently as well to gain this exemption. The NSA is pleased that FDA viewed their comments favorably and made this decision. The sunflower industry will need to monitor other FSMA rules in regards to transportation, food and feed as they pertain to all products including sunflower.