FSMA's Final Sanitary Transportation Rule Provides Greater Flexibility

By Samantha Cooper, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager at the Grocery Manufacturers Association

With the publication of the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule, the food industry now has six of the seven foundational rules that establish a modern, risk-based framework for food safety. When compared with the original proposed rule, this final rule is flexible and takes into account the transportation industry’s existing best practices that prevent food safety risks. Taking into account comments from approximately 240 submissions from individuals, some of the major revisions address efforts to protect food from contamination during transportation.

The goal of the Sanitary Transport rule is to prevent transportation practices that may lead to food safety risks — failing to properly refrigerate food, cross contact leading to unintentional incorporation of a food allergen, and inadequate cleaning of vehicles between loads. This rule applies to shippers, receivers, loaders, and carriers who transport food in the U.S. by motor or rail vehicles. Due to limitations in the law, requirements do not apply to ship or air transport.