What is the FSMA 204 traceability rule and when does it apply?

It requires additional records for foods on the FDA's Food Traceability List: critical tracking events, key data elements, traceability lot codes and a traceability plan, and handing records to the FDA within 24 hours when asked. The list includes, among others, non-hard cheeses, shell eggs, nut butters, cucumbers, fresh herbs (such as cilantro), leafy greens, melons, peppers, tomatoes, tropical tree fruits, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, finfish, crustaceans, bivalve mollusks and refrigerated ready-to-eat deli salads. Under a directive from Congress, the FDA will not enforce the rule before July 20, 2028; the FDA has proposed formally moving the date there, but the change is not yet final.