Security Briefs - Jan. 8 - Jan. 15
The Latest Headlines:
- New Shooting Spurs Highway Watch Notice
- FDA Rules in Favor of Truck Terminals
- WTO Warns U.S. Against Creating Trade Barriers
- TRC Awarded Security Contract From Port of Houston
- FDA Rules in Favor of Truck Terminals
New Shooting Spurs Highway Watch Notice
After a new shooting on Interstate 270 in Ohio, the American Trucking Associations reissued an alert to truck drivers in the area to be aware for suspicious behavior.The Trucking Information Sharing and Analysis Center issued the alert on Jan. 15, one day after the 19th shooting on the stretch of interstate near Columbus, Ohio was reported.
The alert asked that “drivers be observant and cautious in the area.” If drivers witness suspicious activity in the area, they are asked to either contact Highway Watch or call 9-1-1. Transport Topics
FDA Rules in Favor of Truck Terminals
The Food and Drug Administration ruled last week that truck terminals are not required to be registered with it under a rule designed to keep bioterrorism weapons from entering the United States in truck-hauled food shipments.Last October, FDA had published rules that require food haulers to give prior notice for items they bring into the country. However, the agency left unclear whether truck terminals where food was temporarily stored must register as food holding areas.
The Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of American Trucking Associations had contended that trucking companies should not be required to register.
The FDA guidance document that exempted the companies said that “truck terminals and other stationary facilities that serve merely to assist transportation vehicles in the process of transporting food are not required to be registered with FDA.”
Therefore, it said, “truck terminals and freight forwarders that are part of the transportation network and have possession, custody, or control of food for the sole purpose of facilitating its transport are not required to be registered with FDA.” Transport Topics
This story appeared in the Jan. 19 print edition of Transport Topics.
WTO Warns U.S. Against Creating Trade Barriers
The World Trade Organization said Friday the United States must avoid erecting new obstacles to trade and investment as it takes additional steps to prevent terrorist attacks on its soil, Agence France-Presse (AFP)reported.Many of the global trade body's 146 members have voiced concern about new security laws passed in the United States that make it harder and more expensive to import goods, AFP said.
As an example, the WTO said while members understand why the United States set up an anti-terrorism initiative to pre-screen U.S.-bound cargo at ports worldwide, they are concerned about the costs of this surveillance program, AFP said.
Linnet Deily, Washington's ambassador to the WTO, said the Bush administration would work with trading partners to limit obstacles. Transport Topics
TRC Awarded Security Contract From Port of Houston
TRC Inc. said Jan. 12 its infrastructure security group had been awarded a three-year contract from the Port of Houston Authority for security enhancements, including master planning and infrastructure design contracting.The deal is worth about $12 million, TRC said in a release. The enhancements likely will include closed-circuit surveillance and access control systems, fencing and structural hardening of gates and key facilities.
The release also said the Port of Houston sees more than 6,600 vessels each year and is among the largest ports in the world. Transport Topics
