[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 246 (Friday, December 23, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76228-76229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24435]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter B

[Docket No. PHMSA-91-13289 (FS-1)]
RIN 2137-AC00


Safeguarding Food From Contamination During Transportation

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Withdrawal of notices of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA), the successor agency to the Research and Special Programs 
Administration (RSPA), is withdrawing the notice of proposed rulemaking 
published on May 21, 1993, and the supplemental notice of proposed 
rulemaking published on December 21, 2004. In those notices, the Agency 
proposed to implement the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 by 
amending its regulations to address the safe transportation of food and 
food products in commerce. On August 10, 2005, the President signed the 
Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005, which transferred authority 
for regulating the safe transportation of food from the U.S. Department 
of Transportation to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helen Engrum, Office of Hazardous 
Materials Standards, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, telephone (202) 366-8553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 (SFTA); required the

[[Page 76229]]

Department of Transportation (DOT) to promulgate regulations to promote 
the safe transportation of food products. (Pub. L. 101-500, 104 Stat. 
1213 [Nov. 3, 1990]). Among other requirements, SFTA required DOT, in 
consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection 
Agency, to:
    (1) Issue regulations with respect to the transportation of food, 
food additives, drugs, devices, and cosmetics, as defined in the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), in motor 
vehicles or rail cars that are used to transport either refuse or non-
food products that could make the food unsafe as a result of such 
transportation;
    (2) Issue regulations governing the construction and use of cargo 
tanks and rail cars used to transport food products, including 
prohibiting the transportation of food products in cargo tanks and rail 
cars used to transport non-food products that would make the products 
unsafe; and
    (3) Designate and publish a list of non-food products that may not 
be transported in cargo tanks and tank cars that are also used to 
transport food products.

II. Current Rulemaking

    On May 21, 1993, the Agency published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) to implement SFTA. (58 FR 29698). Commenters 
generally opposed the proposals in the NPRM and recommended that DOT 
defer to the HHS' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA on food 
safety issues.
    After considering the comments to the NPRM, the Agency concluded 
the expertise for ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, 
including transportation, lies with USDA and FDA. Based on its work 
with USDA and FDA, DOT determined that the public interest would be 
more effectively served and better addressed by building on the present 
statutory authority, existing enforcement and technical expertise, and 
operational framework already established within USDA and FDA. 
Implementation of a food transportation safety program under DOT would 
have required unnecessary duplication of personnel and funds to 
promulgate regulations and to conduct certain training, research and 
testing activities. It could result in duplication, overlap, or 
conflict with current or pending FDA and USDA regulations.
    After a thorough review of the alternatives, the Agency issued a 
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) on December 21, 2004 
proposing to direct compliance with the existing requirements of FDA 
and USDA for the sanitary transportation of food. (69 FR 76432). In the 
SNPRM, the Agency proposed to add a new part 121 to subchapter B of 
Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations to include definitions 
applicable to the transportation of food and food products and to refer 
to requirements of USDA (9 CFR parts 1 through 599) and FDA (21 CFR 
parts 1 through 1299) that apply to persons who offer for 
transportation or transport food in commerce by motor vehicle or rail 
car. We also proposed to recommend use of guidance documents and 
materials promulgated by FDA and USDA related to food transportation 
safety and security. This approach would have prevented duplication or 
conflict with existing regulations and would have assured primary 
responsibility for food safety would rest with FDA and USDA.
    In response to the SNPRM, we received approximately 17 comments 
from food associations, highway and rail associations, freight 
companies, the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council, and several state 
governments' departments of agriculture. The majority of comments 
strongly supported DOT's efforts to implement SFTA by relying on the 
agencies that are best equipped to address these issues. The commenters 
agreed safeguarding food and food products from contamination during 
transportation in commerce is best handled and carried out by USDA and 
FDA. Several commenters suggested revisions to USDA and FDA 
requirements to address perceived shortcomings in those regulatory 
programs. However, such revisions were not proposed and thus are 
outside the scope of the rulemaking.

III. Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005

    On August 10, 2005, the President signed the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU; Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144). Subtitle B of Title VII 
of SAFETEA-LU--the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005--amended 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to assign the regulatory 
authority for food transportation safety to HHS and to require DOT, in 
consultation with HHS and USDA to establish procedures for 
transportation safety inspections to identify suspected incidents of 
food contamination or adulteration. Accordingly, DOT's responsibilities 
in this area are limited to (1) developing and implementing a training 
program for its inspectors that perform commercial motor vehicle or 
railroad safety inspections, and (2) notifying HHS or USDA, as 
applicable, of any instances of potential food contamination or 
adulteration identified during safety inspections. DOT is no longer 
required to issue regulations applicable to the safe transportation of 
food.
    Accordingly, PHMSA is withdrawing the May 21, 1993 NPRM, and 
December 21, 2004 SNPRM and terminating this rulemaking docket. 
Consistent with the re-allocation of food safety responsibilities in 
SAFETEA-LU, we will continue to work with USDA and FDA on inspection 
and enforcement issues. To this end, the three agencies plan to enter 
into a memorandum of understanding to ensure the agencies work together 
effectively to assure the Nation's food supply is safe and secure, 
particularly in the distribution channels involving transportation. 
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and FDA will provide 
practical information regarding their regulations and activities 
concerning food safety and security. Further, FSIS and FDA will provide 
guidance to, and coordinate with, DOT on sharing of significant 
information resulting from DOT safety inspections. FSIS and FDA will 
work with DOT to develop standard training for transportation 
inspectors to enable them to recognize suspected incidents of 
contamination or adulteration or other potential food safety or 
security concerns encountered during their inspections and to report 
these incidents to FSIS or FDA.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 20, 2005, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.53(i).
Stacey L. Gerard,
Acting Assistant Administrator/Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-24435 Filed 12-22-05; 8:45 am]
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