The United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) and 21 other organizations have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the comment period for 90 days – to Aug. 29, 2014 – for the proposed rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food. The proposed rule would require those who transport food to use sanitary transportation practices to ensure the safety of food. Currently, comments on the proposed rule are due by May 31.

The proposed rule, which is required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), would help maintain the safety of both human and animal food during transportation by establishing criteria, e.g., conditions and practices, training and record keeping, for the sanitary transportation of food. Detailed information on the proposed rule is available here.

“Our organizations have been working diligently to analyze the proposed rule and prepare constructive and meaningful comments that address the significant issues we have identified thus far. However, additional time is needed to complete this undertaking. In addition, several of our organizations have spent extensive time and resources responding to other FDA-proposed foundational rules implementing FSMA,” stated the letter to FDA.

Organizations requesting the extension include:

Agricultural Retailers Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Trucking Associations
Corn Refiners Association
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Idaho Trucking Association
Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils
National Barley Growers Association
National Association of Manufacturers
National Chicken Council
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Grain and Feed Association
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Renderers Association
National Turkey Federation
North American Millers’ Association
Pet Food Institute
Transportation Intermediaries Association
United Fresh Produce Association

Read the letter to FDA here. For more information, contact Robert Guenther, United Fresh senior vice president, public policy, at 202-303-3400 or via e-mail: rguenther@unitedfresh.org.