FDA Issues Draft Enforcement Discretion Policy for Certain Small Retailers and Restaurants and Announces Public Meeting on Food Traceability Rule
On Oct. 8, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
announced
it is taking steps to identify and offer stakeholders additional flexibilities, as appropriate, for complying with the
Food Traceability Rule,
and an upcoming
public meeting.
The draft guidance will, if finalized, provide enforcement discretion from the requirements of the Rule for certain smaller retail food establishments (RFEs) and restaurants. The virtual public meeting will be held on Nov. 6, 2026, to give the public an opportunity to share information on implementation of the Food Traceability Rule and areas of remaining concern, specifically as they relate to lot-level tracking and potential flexibilities for compliance. The public meeting is free and open to the public, but
registration
is necessary to attend.