21 CFR §1.360
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)You must create the required records when you receive and release food, except to the extent that the information is contained in existing records.
- (b)If you are a nontransporter, you must retain for 6 months after the dates you receive and release the food all required records for any food having a significant risk of spoilage, loss of value, or loss of palatability within 60 days after the date you receive or release the food.
- (c)If you are a nontransporter, you must retain for 1 year after the dates you receive and release the food all required records for any food for which a significant risk of spoilage, loss of value, or loss of palatability occurs only after a minimum of 60 days, but within 6 months, after the date you receive or release the food.
- (d)If you are a nontransporter, you must retain for 2 years after the dates you receive and release the food all required records for any food for which a significant risk of spoilage, loss of value, or loss of palatability does not occur sooner than 6 months after the date you receive or release the food, including foods preserved by freezing, dehydrating, or being placed in a hermetically sealed container.
- (e)If you are a nontransporter, you must retain for 1 year after the dates you receive and release the food all required records for animal food, including pet food.
- (f)If you are a transporter or nontransporter retaining records on behalf of a transporter, you must retain for 6 months after the dates you receive and release the food all required records for any food having a significant risk of spoilage, loss of value, or loss of palatability within 60 days after the date the transporter receives or releases the food. If you are a transporter, or nontransporter retaining records on behalf of a transporter, you must retain for 1 year after the dates you receive and release the food, all required records for any food for which a significant risk of spoilage, loss of value, or loss of palatability occurs only after a minimum of 60 days after the date the transporter receives or releases the food.
- (g)You must retain all records at the establishment where the covered activities described in the records occurred (onsite) or at a reasonably accessible location.
- (h)The maintenance of electronic records is acceptable. Electronic records are considered to be onsite if they are accessible from an onsite location.