Forecasting food regulations & compliance
Even with advance notice, regulatory changes can be hard to anticipate. Get AheadYou move fast, but regulatory changes are coming faster
In the food and beverage industry, regulations and guidance have traditionally taken time to implement. Especially those introduced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But recent criticisms of this pace have prompted states, such as California, to introduce their own legislation, forcing brands to keep up with a growing list of potential compliance problems if they want to operate throughout the United States. And then there are the international requirements for companies who think and act globally. If you feel like you’re having trouble catching up, you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to try something different—like asking for help.
Understanding the implications of new rules
Whoever said the devil’s in the details must have worked in the food and beverage industry. Because it’s no longer enough to keep up with regulations—and amendments to existing legislation—that specifically target our community. These days, the more interesting regulatory challenges come from initiatives with less-obvious impacts, including eco-friendly efforts like the EU Deforestation Regulation and Scope 3. The key is being able to see potential issues before they become problems.
A global perspective
Regulatory research can be daunting. Especially when you’re single-handedly sourcing applicable laws and guidelines from multiple countries.
Here a risk, there a risk
Does it seem like your supply chain is filled with risks? When visibility is low, pinpointing exactly where things went wrong is all but impossible.
Documentation overload
Managing the deluge of documents that come with compliance is a full-time job…and then some. Even when suppliers provide everything you need.
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“We decided to become a TraceGains customer merely to be able to keep up with the document load with the changing regulatory environment without adding two or three headcount to my staff.”
Jim Thomas, Senior Regulatory Operations Manager, Basic American Inc.
The cost of doing nothing
When it comes to compliance, what you don’t know can and will cost you. Too many F&B brands have adopted a “wait-and-see” approach to regulations and subsequently paid the price.
High-profile cases, like one retailer’s recent $40+ million plea agreement, are a stark reminder of what can happen without sufficient planning. Regulatory penalties from warning letters to forfeitures can quickly escalate once legal fees and settlements are factored in. Then, there are the long-term effects of recalls, like damages to reputation and decreased sales, that can permanently cripple a company.
Beyond the financial risk, our community must also consider its commitment to public health and safety. Which is ultimately the impetus for many regulatory changes.
Put a system in place that works for you
A single source for current regulations
With over 200,000 topics related to hundreds of different jurisdictions, it’s easy to find the information you need when you need it. Curated country guides keep a world of data within reach.
Monitor more with relevant alerts
Instead of getting overwhelmed by incident data, save time with technology that maps alerts to specific ingredients in your supply chain. Access the world’s largest source for horizon scanning data.
AI that automates compliance
Be perpetually audit-ready with technology that takes the manual aspect out of managing documents and reporting. It’s like having a dedicated team working for you.
The complexity of compliance made simple
Imagine a solution that allows you keep pace with regulatory changes across any jurisdiction with proactive adjustments to tracking, reacting, sourcing, specs, and more.
It’s a matter of harnessing the supply chain data at your disposal and integrating it with a system like TraceGains. Move faster with today’s leading food technology that helps you to race to market with compliant products—all while automating risk management.
In reality, the regulatory landscape isn’t getting less complicated. If your team is already behind today, where will you be next month? Next year? Next time there’s an audit?
The days of waiting to see how these changes play out are behind us. Let’s get proactive together.
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