FDA registration continuing questions.

[maple flats]

I registered 12/14/12 and was given an acct #. I've heard nothing yet from the FDA. Have any of you gotten any info in the mail, or from a link the FDA sent you? I thought I'd get a mailing giving thousands of rules and legal mumbo jumbo. I got nor heard nothing yet.

[western mainer]

I haven't heard anything from them. That's not a bad thing!
Brian

[DonMcJr]

I keep seeing this popping up...Is that Every State? What's the deal on this FDA Registering? I must have missed something. Not only that but I don't really like the Government in my crap anymore than they already are if ya get my drift...

[jmayerl]

Yes it is required for anyone selling

[maple flats]

Only required for those who sell more than half to other than the final consumer. It is federal, not state. If you sell at least half to the consumer you don't need to register as I understand it. I might sell over half bulk this year if I have a great season, thus I registered. The last 3 yrs I sold over half to the consumer each year.

[happy thoughts]

Only required for those who sell mare than half to other than the final consumer. It is federal, not state. If you sell at least half to the consumer you don't need to register as I understand it. I might sell over half bulk this year if I have a great season, thus I registered. The last 3 yrs I sold over half to the consumer each year.

That's not my understanding. If you make syrup and it isn't all consumed at the place it was made then you need to register. That goes a little further than just selling it the way I read it. There are no exemptions for not registering if you sell under a certain amount at this point but the rules are still being considered for maple syrup since it is considered a very low risk food. The requirements may change but at this point it looks like anyone that sells any syrup (or even gives some away if you want to read it technically and strictly) needs to register.


This is from the latest FDA guidance issued in Dec 2012.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm331959.htm

9.14 Q: Are maple syrup producers “farms” and, thus, exempt from registering?

A: The response to this question depends upon the activities of the maple syrup producer. The activities of maple syrup producers customarily consist of two types: gathering sap from sugar maple trees and concentrating the sap through the application of heat to make syrup. Gathering sap is "harvesting," which is included in the definition of farm (21 CFR 1.227(b)). The “farm” is exempt from registration. However, concentrating sugar maple sap by heating is a form of manufacturing/processing (21 CFR 1.227(b)). Accordingly, a facility that concentrates sugar maple sap is performing a manufacturing/processing activity and is required to be registered, unless all of the concentrated sap is consumed on the farm or another farm under the same ownership.

here is some other online info in pdf format. the first from Cornell....

http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/oneida/Agriculture/Ag/maple/Maple%20Syrup%20Production%20Requirements.pdf

and this from Anderson maple

http://andersonsmaplesyrup.com/files/FDARegistrationUpdate.pdf

[325abn]

Registration? Registration?..............

We don't need no stinking registration!!! :)

[spencer11]

I read that if you sell have retail to the customer you don't need to register, I read it on here first then on the FDA website, I've got a whole list of little loopholes, like it specifies maple sap, I also taps some reds and silvers, therefore I dont actually have to register

[gmcooper]

The only exemptions that are real are if you only sell sap and do not make syrup or if you make syrup and all of it is consumed on the farm it was produced on or another farm owned by the same owner.

[noreast maple]

Correct!!!!!!!

[Moser's Maple]

gmcooper is correct.
we also registered in dec. and haven't heard anything else except for getting verification of our user pin and password. maybe in this instance no news is good news.
Jake

[Four D Acre Farms]

If i am understanding it correctly it has to do with the bioterrorism legislation and because we produce a product that is or could be consumed by the public we have to register, and to make their job easier they make the rules to blanket everyone. MMPA is encougaging all their members to register and have sent out letters with helps and addresses to register

[Clarkfield Farms]

Maybe because no one's yet sold any since registering? This is more gobbledygook....

[concord maple]

Tried to register online following the instructions provided by the NYSMPA but link appears to be broken. Anyone successfully register online?