Food Shipping Regulations
Transporting food is essential but it also involves a lot of risks. To help avoid these, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bears the majority of the responsibility for ensuring that foods are shipped properly and safely.
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Protection
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Federal law requires that finished food products must be shipped under conditions that will protect against physical, chemical and microbial contamination. The shipping conditions should also prevent foods and their containers from deteriorating.
Trailers
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Most food is transported in trucks at some point. All items, both perishable and nonperishable, must be shipped in a food-grade trailer, according to Ryan Transportation. FDA regulations include requirements that the trailers be free of holes in the floors, walls and ceilings. The trailer must be dry and cannot be used for food if it was ever used for hazardous materials.
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Regulations for Foreigners
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Foreign food suppliers and shippers are required to register with the FDA before shipping regulated items to the United States. These individuals are also required to designate an agent in the United States and to provide the agent's contact details. Doing so provides the FDA with a communication link.
Either the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection or the FDA must be notified two to eight hours before regulated commercial food shipments from foreign sources arrive at a U.S. point of entry.
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References
- Photo Credit derelict tractor trailers in a row image by Bo Widerberg from Fotolia.com
