FSMA: The Sanitary Transport Rule

November 8, 2016Compliance & Validation, FDA Regulations, Featured ArticlesBy Nikki Wolf

September 19, 2016 marked the day when larger businesses must comply with new standards set forth by the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The first year of compliance will affect the larger businesses, generally those with 500 or more employees.

The Sanitary Transport Rule aims to minimize food safety risks during transport and will apply to persons involved in the transportation of food by motor or rail carrier, including shippers, carriers, receivers, loaders and even brokers. Larger facilities will be required to protect against intentional adulteration intended to cause wide-scale public harm.

The rule is applicable to intrastate as well as interstate commerce and imposes vehicle and equipment standards, temperature and cross-contamination controls, and training and record-keeping requirements.

The Sanitary Transport rule does not apply to transportation operations of entities with less than $500,000 in average annual revenue, to foods that are completely enclosed by a container (unless the foods require temperature controls for safety) or to transportation involving certain animal food, food contact substances, compressed food gases, live animals and food that is trans-shipped or imported for future export.

As with all new regulations, questions remain about FDA’s expectations in the coming years, as well as how those uncertainties may impact business operations. As implementation nears, it is important to examine these challenges and understand key considerations regarding likely implementation challenges and potential enforcement risks.

Sources:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm521171.htm

http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2016/09/first-major-fsma-compliance-dates-landmarks-and-learning-experiences/

http://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/octobernovember-2016/a-new-era-of-food-safety-regulation-begins/

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About the author

Nikki Wolf

Nikki Wolf joined Mesa in June of 2016 as a Marketing Specialist for all product lines. As a marketing specialist, Nikki is responsible for developing and creating content for all social media channels, managing Mesa Lab’s tradeshow presence and participation, and writing content for Mesa's website, blogs, newsletters, and press releases. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Wolf provided marketing services in several industries, including contract manufacturing, sustainability services, optics, medical, and finance. Nikki received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies and her Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Marketing from University of Denver.