Which of the following is NOT a required element of a recall plan?

• A. Notification procedures for direct customers, consignees, and public (when appropriate)
• B. Recall effectiveness checks
• C. Mock Recalls are useful to test, plan, and identify areas of weakness but not required
• D. Public relations outreach plan for product safety

Answer: (C)

Recall plans are built around two ideas: what must be included to protect public health, and what activities help ensure readiness but aren’t mandatory in every situation. You must have procedures to notify all affected parties—direct customers, consignees, and, when appropriate, the public—so people know to take action and avoid further risk. You also need a plan to verify that the recall is effective, meaning you can confirm the product has been removed or recovered and actions taken were successful. A public relations outreach plan fits into the communications strategy, helping ensure accurate, timely, and coordinated messaging about the recall to protect public safety.

Mock recalls are a valuable, practical exercise to test the plan and identify weaknesses, but they are not universally required elements of a recall plan. Therefore, the statement that mock recalls are not required is the one that reflects what is not mandatory.