Posted May 20, 2014
Produce and transportation industry groups have asked
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the comment period for
the proposed sanitary transportation rule, according to an article by The
Packer available here. Food Safety Magazine also reported on the
story here.
Groups including the United Fresh Produce Association,
the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, the American Trucking
Association and the Grocery Manufacturers Association sent a letter
requesting that the comment period be extended 90 days to August 29.
The proposed rule is part of FDA’s implementation of
the Food Safety Modernization Act and covers “trains and trucks that haul food,
specifically addressing temperature control documentation and the cleaning of
vehicles and containers.” The sanitary
transportation rule does not apply to small operations having less than
$500,000 in annual sales. The proposed
rule is available here.
The FDA recently released a strategy document emphasizing
voluntary compliance, risk-based oversight, and expanded cooperation in the
food safety community. Additional
information on the strategy document is available here.
For more information on food safety, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
