Passed in 2011, the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) is transforming the U.S. food supply chain. The law applies to most members of the food supply chain, including harvesters, coolers, packers, processors, distributors, and retail food establishments. The deadline to comply with the regulations, including the Final Rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods, is January 20, 2026.
As the deadline approaches, it’s vital to ensure you’re making preparations to comply. Though this definitely includes rules regarding harvesting and transportation it’s important to remember that FSMA also addresses food storage and warehousing. With that in mind, let’s take a deep dive into FSMA warehouse requirements and what they mean for your business.
Understanding FSMA Warehouse Requirements
FSMA includes a set of rules that govern food production and distribution. FSMA 204, the Food Traceability Final Rule, established additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL).
There are seven other rules, some that could affect operations and compliance at your warehouses and other facilities:
- Preventive Controls for Human Food: Must meet Current Good Manufacturing Practice mandates, perform hazard analyses, and implement preventive controls.
- Produce Safety Rule: Must establish science-based standards for packing, production, and storage of fruits and vegetables
- Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP): Requires foreign suppliers to demonstrate that they are meeting U.S. food safety standards
- Sanitary Transportation Rule: Establishes regulations for sanitary transportation of food items
- Accredited Third-Party Certification Rule: Created a program to accredit specific third-party certification bodies to conduct food safety system audits of foreign facilities.
- Protection Against Intentional Adulteration: Aims to prevent foodborne illness by guarding against intentional adulteration
- Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP): Optional fee-based program for foreign food facilities that want to import foods into the U.S.
We know it can be challenging to understand the FSMA rules. While focusing on the totality of the regulations — how they’ll affect your operations, your trading partners, the industry in general, and even consumers — always pay attention to the rules that pertain to your specific, day-to-day role in the supply chain.
For instance, if you operate food warehouses, be sure you understand the FSMA storage regulations just as well as you understand the FSMA 204 traceability requirements.
FSMA Warehouse and Storage Regulations
The primary goal of the FSMA regulations is to prevent foodborne illnesses and protect public health. Though this is the main driver for compliance, keep in mind that non-compliance can slow or stop your operations, damage to your brand reputation, and irk your customers and consumers.
With this in mind, here are the basics of FSMA warehouse requirements:
- Pest Control: Food safety plans must protect food items from indoor and outdoor pests
- Sanitation: Consumers must be protected from allergen cross-contact and pathogens
- Temperature Controls: Especially important for animal foods like meat, eggs, and milk
Additionally, you’ll need to meet the FSMA 204 traceability requirements. Read more about those in our blog here.
Implications for Distributors
If you’re a distributor, FSMA warehouse and storage requirements directly affect your operations. The law requires you to keep and maintain records that show you and your partners are compliant and adhering to food safety requirements. This means you should be coordinating with your partners right now to make sure they’re preparing to share information and comply.
You’ll also need to closely monitor warehouse operations. Pay close attention to refrigeration guidelines, and take corrective actions immediately if you detect a deficiency. Also make sure you have the right sanitation controls in place, as this will help prevent cross-contamination.
Key Practices for Compliance
So what can you do to comply with FSMA? Beyond contacting us to discuss the requirements and the concrete steps you can take now, here’s a short list of things to keep top of mind:
Create a Food Safety Culture through Training
Your team is the first line of defense against outbreaks and compliance slip-ups, so make sure they have a foundational knowledge of the law. A well-trained team can help you be prepared for FSMA warehouse requirements and keep your facilities safe, compliant, and efficient. Training should include FSMA basics — traceability, modernization, food safety, etc. — as well as information about food processing best practices and your organizational commitment to safety and compliance.
Audit Your Processes
One key to compliance is to be audit-ready. The USDA or FDA may never come knocking, but you should act like it’s an inevitability. Conduct your own audits to identify compliance gaps in your storage and distribution processes. Internal audits will also reveal pain points and other inefficiencies that affect your operations.
Implement a Robust Recordkeeping System
FSMA stipulates that supply chain actors must maintain and share product information with their partners. The law also says that companies must share records with the FDA within 24 hours of a request (or within a mutually agreed-upon timeframe). If should you be audited, expect repercussions if you don’t have the required traceability information on hand.
Have a Plan for Safety — and More
Create a food safety plan and share it with your team. Anyone involved in maintaining food safety and preventing foodborne illness should know your plan inside and out.
You should also create a recall strategy. This should include how to share information with the FDA and other authorities and your trading partners. It should also include how to communicate with consumers about affected products and how to dispose of them safely.
Final Thoughts: Be Proactive with FSMA Warehouse Requirements
The best and quickest path to complying with FSMA warehouse requirements is to work with a reliable, experienced technology provider like us. Our supply chain solutions for the food and beverage industry will ensure you’re ready for January 2026 and the FSMA regulations for traceability, storage, and recordkeeping.
Connect with us today and one of our FSMA compliance and supply chain traceability experts can show you how it works. In about 15 minutes, you’ll have a better understanding of the law, how prepared you are, and how to get to full compliance by January 2026.
