FDA Grants More Time for Menu Labeling Comments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the comment period for its menu labeling rule by 30 days.

The agency previously requested comments on how the rule should be revised to reduce the regulatory burden on restaurants and other covered establishments and stated that comments submitted within 60 days, or by July 3, 2017, would be considered.

With the extension, the FDA will consider comments submitted through Aug. 2.

The extension follows a requested from the National Restaurant Association, which told the FDA midway through the original comment period that it would be "nearly impossible" to prepare and submit comments without a 60-day extension.

NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing, is urging convenience retailers to file comments with the FDA, and has provided an instructional page that has directions, direct links to file comments electronically and a letter template that retailers can customize to include their own information. NACS stated that it encourages retailers to personalize their comments as much as possible, as agencies will often combine identical letters into one, even if they originate from different sources.

NACS also plans to file its own comments on behalf of the association.

The extended comment period does not change the menu labeling compliance date, which is still set for May 7, 2018.