The final FDA rules on food safety are here and functioning. Developed over the last 11 years, the rules establish requirements for those bound by them to ensure the safety of food products that move through the supply chain. Those required to comply include shippers who ship food to the United States from Canada and/or Mexico by motor or rail vehicle, vessel or air carriage and arrange for the transfer of the food product to motor or rail vehicle for further consumption or distribution in the United States.
Specifically, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) establishes requirements for vehicles and transportation equipment, transportation operations, records, training and waivers. Certain key requirements demand new approaches to control, but there are only two firms currently providing logistics support for three specific key requirements—vehicles and transportation equipment, transportation operations and records. There is one additional area that’s an exception to the FSMA key requirements. That specific area covers exporters who ship food through the United States not intended to enter distribution within the United States.