The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published its long anticipated final rules for the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food (STF) in April. The rule, which became effective in June, established requirements for shippers, loaders, carriers—by motor or rail vehicle—and receivers involved in transporting human and animal food to use documented sanitary practices to ensure food safety.

This action was part of the FDA’s larger effort—and requirement—to focus on preventing food safety problems throughout the food chain, and is part of the agency’s implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 (2005 SFTA) and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).