The Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rule is part of which broader act?

• A. Federal Meat Inspection Act
• B. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
• C. Food Safety Modernization Act
• D. Animal Health Protection Act

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the PCAF rule sits under a prevention-focused regulatory program established by a broad food-safety reform act. The Food Safety Modernization Act created a system where agencies require facilities to prevent hazards before products reach the market, not just react after problems occur. The PCAF rule puts that philosophy into practice for animal food by requiring facilities to conduct hazard analyses, implement preventive controls, verify supplier compliance, keep records, and plan for recalls. While the other acts govern different domains—meat inspection, general food and drug safety, or animal health problems—they do not provide the overarching framework specifically designed to prevent contamination across all foods the way FSMA does.