The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new voluntary security guidance document to bolster security for agricultural and food product transporters, according to USDA information. The guide was developed in partnership with the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and its Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) to bolster national security and safeguard public health.
As part of the partnership, the ATA/AFTC undertook a major survey of 24,000 commercial food and agriculture transporters on their concerns regarding security, terrorism, and where and how to get information. The survey results helped in the development of the guide and informed the identification of additional security options aimed at enhancing protections already in practice across the industry to safeguard people, property, products, processes, information, and information systems.
Information in the guide includes methods and tools for companies to assess threat vulnerabilities and implement security plans to protect against intentional contamination or disruption, including terrorist attacks. There are suggestions for companies, their managers and drivers, and ways to report concerns.
Click here to see the guide.