ROCKVILLE, Md. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposed regulation that would required prior notice be given before food is imported or offered for import into the U.S.

The intent of the regulation, under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act (Bioterrorism Act), is to protect the nation’s food supply against terrorist acts and other public health threats.

The prior notice will have to be submitted electronically through an FDA Internet-based system.

The importer is required to provide pre-notification via the internet by noon of the calendar day before the day the imported food will arrive at the U.S. border crossing or at point of entry.

A separate system is being built to handle this. The plan is ultimately to merge with ACE in 2005. Under the Bioterrorism Act, the regulation must be implemented by December 12, 2003. The registration provisions may or may not include LTL terminals – any facility that holds food is required to register.

For more information, contact Ron Lennox at the Canadian Trucking Alliance via e-mail at lennox@cantruck.com or by phone at 613-236-9426.