Dive Brief:
- FDA has finalized a new FSMA rule regarding food safety protocols during the transport of products. This is the sixth of seven major FSMA rules to be released.
- Per the new rule, entities transporting human or animal food by motor or rail vehicle must abide by recognized best practices for sanitary transportation. These include ensuring proper refrigeration for products, sufficiently cleaning the vehicle after each delivery, and ensuring food is properly protected while being transported.
- Larger businesses must comply within one year of the rule's publication. Smaller manufacturers have two years to reach compliance.
Dive Insight:
This new rule includes all food and beverage products transported throughout the U.S., including products made domestically and imports that are later moved throughout the country.
FDA said that it is "infrequent" for major food contamination problems to be caused during transport, The Wall Street Journal reported. Manufacturers that are not already employing the relevant food safety protocols in their distribution and other transportation-based operations now have a deadline.
For certain companies, these new measures could significantly change aspects of the supply chain, such as needing to pre-cool delivery trucks before loading, especially in areas of warmer weather.