--- title: FDA Releases Final Rule on Safe Transportation of Food Rule description: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the Final Rule for the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food on April 6, 2016. --- [![TranzAct Logo](https://blog.tranzact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Redesign_images/TranzAct-Logo_200px.png?width=200&height=60&name=TranzAct-Logo_200px.png "TranzAct Logo")](https://www.tranzact.com/) # TranzAct Industry News ## FDA Releases Final Rule on Safe Transportation of Food Rule 4/21/2016 [10 Considerations in Choosing a Freight Audit and Payment Provider](https://blog.tranzact.com/lessons-on-life-and-logistics/10-considerations-in-choosing-a-freight-audit-and-payment-provider) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the Final Rule for the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food on April 6, 2016. This Final Rule will advance FDA’s efforts to protect foods from farm to table by keeping them safe from contamination during transportation. The earliest compliance dates for some businesses begin on April 6, 2017, while “small businesses” have until April 6, 2018, to comply. The Agency defines a small business as, “businesses other than motor carriers who are not also shippers and/or receivers employing fewer than 500 persons and motor carriers having less than $27.5 million in annual receipts.” The Agency amended the definition of a “shipper” to include 3PLs as a responsible party. Specifically, the definition reads: *Shipper means a person, e.g., the manufacturer or a freight broker, who arranges for the transportation of food in the United States by a carrier or multiple carriers sequentially. * Furthermore, the Agency notes that shippers or brokers are in the best position to determine the necessary requirements and places the primary responsibility for compliance with them. This would include: - Appropriate transportation operations - If the food needs temperature controlled for safety and the relevant operating temperature and mode of temperature monitoring - If clean out procedures are needed - If previous cargo should be revealed  *The Agency notes that shippers can contractually assign responsibility to other covered parties.* Please visit the TIA Government Affairs website for a [complete background paper](http://www.tianet.org/TIA/Advocacy/Key_Issues/Sanitary_Food_Transport/TIAnetOrg/Advocacy/Advocacy_Key_Issues/Sanitary_Transport_of_Food.aspx?hkey=800f7207-f35f-4b8f-be63-ec39c3c89389) of all the requirements for shippers/brokers. ### Would you like to share your thoughts? [![bE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/329734/ae2bfabc-70c7-4f77-8f11-cb2ce962d154.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/329734/ae2bfabc-70c7-4f77-8f11-cb2ce962d154) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Popular Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Carriers (3)](https://blog.tranzact.com/news/topic/carriers) - [Economy (1)](https://blog.tranzact.com/news/topic/economy) - [Logistics legislation (1)](https://blog.tranzact.com/news/topic/logistics-legislation) - [Parcel (1)](https://blog.tranzact.com/news/topic/parcel) ### About Us TranzAct helps shippers like you reduce their transportation spend while providing the tools necessary to make better business decisions on an ongoing basis. Our solutions provide shippers of all modes with freight audit and payment, reporting and TMS applications, rate negotiation and savings, contract development, consulting and analysis. - [**](https://twitter.com/TranzAct) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/TranzActTechnologies) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tranzact-technologies-inc) - [**](https://www.youtube.com/user/TranzActTechnologies) ### Popular Posts ### GET IN TOUCH We're on Your Team & We're Here to Help 360 W. Butterfield Road Suite 400 Elmhurst, IL 60126 [+630.833.0890](tel:1-630-833-0890)  [helpdesk@tranzact.com](mailto:helpdesk@tranzact.com) © 2026 TranzAct Technologies, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.