Miller Magazine Issue: 145 January 2022

38 MILLER / january 2022 NEWS The US National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) announced the availability of a new resource that gives shippers greater visibility into the recent commodities carried by covered hopper cars. NGFA and NAMA, along with a coalition including the National Oilseed Processors Association, Pet Food Insti- tute, and American Bakers Association, earlier this year announced a partnership with the Association of Amer- ican Railroads (AAR) and Railinc with the goal of provid- ing 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 opera- tional 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 func- tionality companies need.” “NAMA appreciated the opportunity to collaborate on this important initiative with AAR, Railinc, and our supply chain partners. This tool will provide the milling industry greater transparency and quicker access to essential in- formation that will help NAMA’s members maintain a high level of food safety, a top priority for our industry,” said NAMA Vice President, Government and Technical Affairs Dale Nellor. The new online resource, the Last Three Loaded Stan- dard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC), 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 Moderniza- tion Act (FSMA). The secure, searchable user interface developed by Railinc relies on the company’s unique in- dustry 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 work- ing group demonstrates the shared commitment by ship- pers, loaders, and carriers to strengthening the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the U.S food supply. The on- boarding application and Last Three Loaded STCC user guide are available on Railinc’s website. NGFA and NAMA announce food safety ınitiative with Railinc