FDA Establishes Produce Regulatory Program Standards to Strengthen State Oversight

FDA Releases Produce Regulatory Program Standards (PRPS)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the establishment of Produce Regulatory Program Standards (PRPS), a new framework designed to strengthen and standardize produce safety oversight activities conducted by state programs.

The PRPS are intended to enhance the implementation of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule by promoting consistency, quality, and continuous improvement across state regulatory programs responsible for produce safety.

What the PRPS Program Includes

The Produce Regulatory Program Standards outline a structured approach for state programs to:

Establish consistent regulatory oversight practices
Strengthen inspection and compliance activities
Improve training and program management systems
Support uniform implementation of produce safety requirements

FDA indicated that the standards are designed to align state programs with national expectations while allowing flexibility for program development and improvement over time.

How PRPS Fits into FSMA

The PRPS framework supports the broader goals of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) by reinforcing preventive controls and improving coordination between federal and state oversight of produce safety.

State agencies play a key role in conducting inspections and working directly with produce growers. The PRPS provide a model to ensure these activities are carried out consistently across jurisdictions.

What This Means for Produce Growers and Handlers

While PRPS applies directly to state regulatory programs, produce operations may see indirect impacts through:

More consistent inspection approaches across states
Standardized expectations during compliance and enforcement activities
Increased alignment in how produce safety requirements are interpreted

Companies involved in produce production, packing, and distribution should continue to align their practices with the Produce Safety Rule and be aware of evolving oversight approaches at the state level.

EAS Perspective

The introduction of PRPS reflects FDA’s continued focus on strengthening produce safety through improved coordination and consistency. As state programs adopt these standards, industry stakeholders may benefit from clearer and more predictable regulatory expectations.

EAS will continue monitoring implementation of PRPS and provide updates as adoption progresses.

Source: FDA Constituent Update

Source: FDA PRPS Overview

Date: February 24, 2026

Posted in FDA and USDA Regulatory Update, Foods.