On April 5, the FDA finalized the sixth of seven FSMA food safety rules, the rule to help prevent food contamination during transport.
Proper refrigeration, adequate vehicle cleaning between loads, and proper protection during transport top the list of safety protocols manufacturers are now under deadline to follow. Larger businesses have one year from now to comply; smaller businesses must comply in two.
The rule impacts all food shipped throughout the U.S., including food produced domestically and any imports that are later moved around the country.
“This final rule will help to ensure that all those involved in the farm-to-fork continuum are doing their part to ensure that the food products that arrive in our grocery stores are safe to eat,” said Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.
Taylor adds that the FDA recognizes the importance of education and training in achieving widespread compliance, and is committed to working with both industry and government partners to ensure effective implementation of all of the new food safety rules under FSMA.
The seventh rule, which focuses on mitigation strategies to protect food against intentional adulteration, is expected to be finalized later in 2016.
Source: Food Processing. FDA Finalizes Food Safety Rule on Transport
