FDA Publishes New Agricultural Water Resources
On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted additional materials to support growers, regulators, and other stakeholders in implementing the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). Specifically, the FDA has issued a Constituent Update, posted several frequently asked questions (FAQs), and provided information about implementation activities.
The FDA developed the FAQs based on questions received during interactions with stakeholders to support farms with the implementation of the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements of the PSR, covering the following topics:
- Inspection and maintenance of agricultural water systems,
- Pre-harvest agricultural water assessments (including testing as part of an assessment and assessment outcomes),
- Harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements,
- Corrective and mitigation measures, and
- Agricultural water treatment.
The FDA has also released updated information about how it plans to implement the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions of the PSR, including education, training, technical assistance, and collaboration with state regulators, educators, and industry partners. The development of the forthcoming best practices document for managing agricultural water was noted as an example of collaboration with industry.
To see the full Constituent Update, click here
To access the FQAs, click here
For more details on implementation activities, click here
If you have any questions, reach out to Sonia Salas at [email protected]