Registration of Food Facilities Under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an interim final regulation that requires domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture/process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States to register with FDA by December 12, 2003. The interim final rule implements the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act), which requires domestic and foreign facilities to register with FDA by December 12, 2003, even in the absence of a final regulation. Registration is one of several tools that will enable FDA to act quickly in responding to a threatened or actual terrorist attack on the U.S. food supply by giving FDA information about facilities that manufacture/process, pack, or hold food for consumption in the United States. In the event of an outbreak of foodborne illness, such information will help FDA and other authorities determine the source and cause of the event. In addition, the registration information will enable FDA to notify quickly the facilities that might be affected by the outbreak.