Interim rule affects FSMA whistleblowers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published an interim final rule establishing procedures and time frames for handling retaliation complaints under the Food Safety Modernization Act. OSHA invites the public to submit comments on the interim final rule.
FSMA, signed into law in January 2011, provides employees who disclose information about a possible violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with protection against retaliation from businesses engaged in the manufacture, processing, packing, transporting, and distribution of food.
This interim final rule establishes procedures, burdens of proof, remedies, and statutes of limitations similar to other whistleblower protection statutes that OSHA administers.
Individuals may submit comments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments must be submitted by April 14, 2014.
OSHA enforces whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of regulations including commercial motor vehicle, environmental, railroad, transportation, motor vehicle safety, healthcare reform, and food safety. Additional information is available at www.whistleblowers.gov.
For more information, visit www.osha.gov.