The FDA has staggered the compliance dates, based on the size of farms, to provide additional time for small and very small farms to come into compliance with the requirements, and is providing extended time for almost all farms to meet certain water requirements in Subpart E. Because of their history of outbreaks, operations growing sprouts have less time to come into compliance than other farms and do not get additional time to come into compliance with any of the water requirements. Farms with an average annual value of produce sold of $25,000 or less during the previous three year period are not covered by the rule.
