PBB provides online help to Canadian food shippers

PBB provides online help to Canadian food shippers    PBB Logistics Group has launched a new section in its Web site to help Canadian food shippers prepare for new U.S. Food and Drug Administration import regulations, effective Dec. 12.
   “Many of our clients in the food industry are very concerned about the impact of the new FDA rules,” said Jack Rafferty, managing director of corporate regulatory services for the Fort Erie, Ontario-based logistics services provider. “The changes are quite comprehensive, and we strongly advise any business shipping food to the U.S. to take action right away in anticipation of the new FDA regimen.”
   The new FDA regulations, which promise to improve food security, require food facilities worldwide to register with the agency before Dec. 12. Canadian and other non-U.S. companies will also be require to appoint a U.S.-based agent as a communications link with the FDA. This will affect up to 200,000 food facilities, PBB said.
   The new rules also require all U.S. food imports to be reported and confirmed by the FDA two to eight hours before arrival at the border, depending on the type of transportation.
   The PBB Web site section covering the new FDA rules, https://www.pbb.com/fda, provides shippers with fact sheets, questions and answers, a white paper, forms and links to the FDA’s own registration Web site.
   “We developed this on-line service to help traders access the most comprehensive information and tools for complying with the new rules, in an easy-to-understand, jargon-free format,” Rafferty said.