The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new rules requiring additional recordkeeping for just about anyone who comes in contact with food for human or animal consumption, including trucking companies.
FDA says the proposed records, which would require identification of previous sources and subsequent recipients, implement the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 and are necessary to properly address credible threats of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans and animals.
The agency also said the regulations would significantly improve its ability to respond to and help contain threats of adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals from accidental or deliberate contamination of food.
The regulations would apply to those who manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, hold or import food intended for human or animal consumption in the United States. Transporters (persons who have possession, custody or control of food for the sole purpose of transporting it), would have to establish and maintain records about their own transportation activities, the persons from whom the food was received, and the person to whom it was delivered. FDA said the records would allow it to follow the chain of custody through each transportation step, which may include a variety of forms of transportation (i.e. plane, train, and truck).
Farms, restaurants, certain fishing vessels and retail facilities would be exempt from portions of the rules. FDA is also proposing an exemption for manufacturers, transporters, distributors, etc. that deal only with food regulated exclusively by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The entire proposal was published in the May 9 Federal Register which can be accessed through www.gpoaccess.gov. Comments are due July 8.