The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning July 1, 2023, suppliers of food purchase programs administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will no longer be required to use high security seals on trucks, railcars, vessels and other transports when transporting food products purchased to support those programs but will be allowed to use traceable, tamper evident, flat metal, wire or plastic commercial security seals.
AMS’ Commodity Procurement Program made the change to align with current industry standard practices and reduce barriers to vendor participation in USDA food purchase programs. By aligning USDA requirements with commercial standards, USDA continues promoting competition by expanding the vendor pool and creating opportunities for smaller and minority-owned businesses.
In February 2022, AMS and USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) co-published a request for information (RFI) on “Improving USDA Product Specifications and Distribution Requirements: Industry Perspectives” to gain feedback from industry suppliers of domestic food distribution programs and help USDA identify areas of improvement to the overall purchasing process for USDA Foods. In addition to the responses to the RFI, industry had previously expressed that the high security seal requirement is unique only to deliveries of food purchases by USDA.
The Commodity Procurement Program assessed vendor responses, consulted other AMS subject matter experts, including USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS); reviewed other USDA programs’ practices, and consulted AMS’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) liaison to ensure recommendations would align with FDA. AMS and FNS determined that removal of the high security seal requirement is feasible and will have no impact on the quality or safety of the food that people will receive through USDA.
For questions regarding the change in seal requirements, contact Nutrition and Specification Management Branch Chief Gwen Holcomb at Gwen.Holcomb@usda.gov or 202-963-9516.
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