Last week the FDA released final rules under the Food Safety and Modernization Act. The act overhauls the food regulatory framework in regards to food safety. Randy Gordon, with the National Grain and Feed Association says there will be a one to three year rollout of rules and compliance period for the feed and food industries. He says feed companies are looking at some major changes in how they do business.

He says they’re currently educating their members about verification and compliance. However, they want to make sure the rules don’t end up driving costs higher for feed companies without a consumer benefit.

Gordon says grain elevators are largely exempt from the new rules, except for supplier verification of contaminants like mycotoxin.

The rule will also regulate on-farm produce production and that is expected to improve food safety for consumers, especially after some of the outbreaks the last few years. However, it is expected the new rules will increase food costs.