Pest Control Governance in Food Facilities

This technical report discusses the implications of the FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule, known as FSMA 204, on pest control practices in food facilities. It outlines that while FSMA 204 establishes a governance principle for continuous monitoring and data integrity in food safety, it does not currently address pest control methodologies, which remain reliant on periodic inspections. The report argues that the governance logic of FSMA 204 will eventually extend to pest risk management, necessitating a shift from traditional inspection-based methods to continuous monitoring systems. It highlights the inadequacies of the current pest control governance, including the reliance on narrative documentation and the lack of independent verification of pest management records. The authors emphasize the need for a standardized governance approach to pest risk in food facilities, paralleling the advancements made in other risk vectors such as supply chain and environmental monitoring. The report serves as a call to action for compliance officers and stakeholders to recognize and adapt to the evolving regulatory landscape.