FPAA to host seminar on food safety and food security
FPAA to host seminar on food safety and food security
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas is hosting a seminar titled "Importing, Food Safety & Food Security: What to Expect for 2009 and Beyond" to help the importing community have direct interaction with the Food & Drug Administration, U.S. Customs & Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- three government agencies that play significant roles in overseeing the importation of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The two-day seminar will be held Nov. 18-19 in Tubac, AZ, which is located a few miles north of Nogales, the largest port of entry for fresh fruits and vegetables imported from Mexico. Tubac is located just 45 minutes south of the Tucson International Airport.
Customs officials will be addressing supply chain security, importing compliance issues and cargo procedures. The USDA will discuss its role and the role of Customs in conducting agriculture inspections at ports of entry. The FDA's Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition and the Division of Import Operations & Policy will cover such topics as Good Agricultural Practices; the FDA's food protection plan and import safety action plan; tracebacks; and the future handling of imported products.
Additional speakers continue to be added to the agenda to ensure a broad coverage of the issues affecting imported produce.
"We have had a very proactive relationship with the government agencies that have oversight of imported produce. We see this as a way to continue to work more closely with our government agencies to ensure that we are complying fully with current requirements, to discuss what practices we can change to better meet these requirements, and to position ourselves to meet future changes," FPAA Chairman Chris Ciruli said in the press release.
The seminar will be held at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa at 1 Avenue de Otero. The cost of the two-day event, which includes lunch and refreshments for both days, is $80 for FPAA members and $160 for non-members. There is no charge for government employees. Companies interested in registering for the event or that have more questions should contact the FPAA office at 520/287-2707.
The two-day seminar will be held Nov. 18-19 in Tubac, AZ, which is located a few miles north of Nogales, the largest port of entry for fresh fruits and vegetables imported from Mexico. Tubac is located just 45 minutes south of the Tucson International Airport.
Customs officials will be addressing supply chain security, importing compliance issues and cargo procedures. The USDA will discuss its role and the role of Customs in conducting agriculture inspections at ports of entry. The FDA's Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition and the Division of Import Operations & Policy will cover such topics as Good Agricultural Practices; the FDA's food protection plan and import safety action plan; tracebacks; and the future handling of imported products.
Additional speakers continue to be added to the agenda to ensure a broad coverage of the issues affecting imported produce.
"We have had a very proactive relationship with the government agencies that have oversight of imported produce. We see this as a way to continue to work more closely with our government agencies to ensure that we are complying fully with current requirements, to discuss what practices we can change to better meet these requirements, and to position ourselves to meet future changes," FPAA Chairman Chris Ciruli said in the press release.
The seminar will be held at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa at 1 Avenue de Otero. The cost of the two-day event, which includes lunch and refreshments for both days, is $80 for FPAA members and $160 for non-members. There is no charge for government employees. Companies interested in registering for the event or that have more questions should contact the FPAA office at 520/287-2707.
