Non-Specific Address Requirements

Question: 

What information should I include in the description of my site's location, if I don't have a standard postal address?

Answer: 

Describe the surrounding area to and at the site. Some items to include are:

• Road names
• Signage
• Distances

Here's an example of descriptive text for sites lacking a standard postal address:

"Turn onto Highland Farms Rd from County Road 17, continue ¼ mile, turn left onto a dirt road, cross the culvert, and continue 1/10th of a mile. The entrance to the farm is the first gate on the right by the Highland Farms Ranch 3 sign."

Question: 

Why am I required to add a description of my site's location, if I don't have a standard postal address?

Answer: 

The Hub incorporates the site specific information on records to follow requirements for the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and Food Traceability List (FTL). This will provide compliance with industry audits and additional regulatory requirements such as the Produce Safety Rule and Food Traceability List regulations. Check out additional information below.

Additional Information about PSR and FTL:   

Produce Safety Rule (PSR) 

• Currently, PSR requirements are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Allows either address or coordinates. 
• Regulation that requires address specification for your site on your records. 
• Is OK with GPS coordinates for non-standard addresses, but industry audits still require a description of how to get to the site for non-standard addresses, which GPS alone will not cover.
• Check out more information about PSR at FDA.gov.

Food Traceability List (FTL)

• Purpose is to enable quick and accurate identification of the source of any potential food issues. 
• Improves efficiency and accountability in the supply chain. 
• Requirements are not mandatory currently, but will become so in the future.
• Requires date and location of production, but only for select commodities that are on the FTL.
• Find out more information about requirements for farms and their traceability plan at FDA.gov