The National Grain and Feed Association and a coalition of agricultural shippers including the North American Millers Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, Pet Food Institute, and American Bakers Association announce a partnership with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and Railinc to give shippers greater visibility into the recent commodities carried by covered hopper cars.
This new resource will provide shippers with essential information to maintain
the highest food safety standards and help prevent potential cross-contact with
food allergens.
“Thanks to funding and leadership provided by AAR and Railinc, agricultural
shippers will have access to a reliable resource to obtain information on the
last three loads hauled in railcars, which is crucial to food safety and
regulatory compliance,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert. “NGFA also is
grateful to the operational and technical experts representing industry users
on a joint working group that was engaged at the outset in designing this new
resource to ensure it has the functionality companies need.”
“This partnership means that agricultural shippers – and ultimately families at
the grocery store – can have greater confidence in their products’ safety,”
said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “As long-time, valued customers,
railroads are proud to partner on this innovative solution and look forward to
fully implementing the program.”
The new online portal will allow agricultural shippers to better identify the
last contents hauled in a particular rail car to continue to ensure the highest
food safety standards are met and to comply with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s food sanitary transportation rules under the Food Safety
Modernization Act (FSMA). The secure, searchable user interface being developed
by Railinc will rely on the company’s unique industry knowledge and management
of critical industry systems that track nearly all the equipment in the North
American rail fleet and the commodities transported.
This partnership between AAR, Railinc and the working group demonstrates the
shared commitment by shippers, loaders, and carriers to strengthening the
safety, reliability and efficiency of the U.S food supply. The portal is
expected to launch in late 2021.
