SCDA’s Produce Safety Department was established in order to implement the Produce Safety Rule in South Carolina. The Produce Safety Rule was adopted as the South Carolina Produce Safety Act in 2017. Adopting this law allows our agency to regulate farms at the state level as opposed to federal regulation.
The Produce Safety Rule is part of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). It establishes science-based minimum standards for safe production and harvesting of fresh fruits and vegetables. The rule is divided into several parts, including standards for:
- Worker health, hygiene, and training
- Agricultural water, both for production and post-harvest uses
- Biological soil amendments (e.g., compost, manure)
- Domesticated and wild animals
- Equipment, tools, buildings, and sanitation
- Production of sprouts
Produce Safety Rule Inspections
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture performs routine inspections of produce farms to verify compliance with the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule. Growers can expect that inspections will be announced and scheduled (within an appropriate time frame) with the owner or person in charge. Inspectors will take all routes necessary to educate our South Carolina farmers during their inspections on potential microbial hazards.
Exemptions
Some growers may be excluded or exempt from the regulations, and do not have to undergo a Produce Safety Rule Inspection.
Registration
Produce farms can register to be added to our state’s farm inventory. Through registering, you will receive updates on PSA trainings, on-farm readiness reviews, rule updates, and more.
Grower Resources
- FDA’s Agricultural Water Testing Methods
- PSA’s Geometric Mean and Statistical Threshold Value Worksheet
- UCDavis Microbiological Water Quality Profile Calculator, Ground Water
- UCDavis Microbiological Water Quality Profile Calculator, Surface Water
- PSA’s Approved Produce Sanitizers
- PSA’s Water Analysis Update
- South Carolina Water Labs
- South Carolina Water Labs Methods & Pricing
- Agricultural Water System Inspection vs. Agricultural Water Assessment
