U.S. Plans Security Rules On Truck Food Shipments

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img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration unveiled two food shipment security proposals, adding to the growing list of anti-terrorism regulations that some in trucking said add complexity and costs to the industry and the national economy.

The rules, the first two of four food security proposals coming soon from FDA, would require foreign facilities that hold, process or pack food destined for U.S. consumption to register and would require importers to provide FDA advance notice of food imports.

Trucking industry officials said the advance notification requirement could leave truckers stranded at the border if their customers did not live up to FDA's rules and that the overall increase in regulation would harm efficiency.

"What happens if you're a trucker sitting at the border and you're told the shipper didn't provide the right information to FDA?" asked American Trucking Associations' director of trucking security and operations, Jack Legler. "You're stuck with nothing to do and you can't use your truck until it's sorted out. You can't just drop the load."

For the full story, see the Feb. 3 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.