Lean Trimmings and Herd on the Hill
This is a text-only version of the NMA newsletter, Lean Trimmings and Herd on the Hill, provided for your convenience. To view the PDF version of the newsletter, including this week's inserts, please visit the newsletter back issues in the members-only section of the website or consult your current newsletter mailing for a link.
Lean Trimmings
Edited by Lauron Early
January 30, 2011
NMA CONVENTION: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
A variety of meat industry employees can benefit from the networking and educational opportunities at NMA’s 66th Annual Convention. To be held in Tucson, Arizona at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort on February 14-18, 2012, this event will be a buffet of possibilities for any enterprising industry expert.
Executives – Meat industry executives and senior management will be able to circulate in style among their peers in the meetings and during the receptions. NMA draws the top decision makers and trend setters from around the country with exceptional educational opportunities and a convivial atmosphere. Whether enjoying teamwork at the Golf Tournament or collaboration during the Issues Over Breakfast session, there are multiple ways to expand your connections.
Food Safety/Food Quality –NMA’s event includes roundtable talks on not only the science of meat safety, but also the regulatory framework of meat inspection. Expert consultants, innovative laboratories and testing gurus will gather with quality assurance specialists and safety regulators to chart emerging challenges. Visit the Supplier Spolight Showcase for an outlook on materials and supplies, and sit in on discussions on technology and tactics at the Food Safety Forum.
Marketers – Whether its export markets, retail channels or restaurant supply chains, NMA brings the best of the best together to discuss how to increase, impress and empower consumers through market access and awareness. Mingle with experts after the Marketing Emerging Trends Forum and enjoy the Speaker Luncheon featuring Hugh Whaley from the U.S. Ranchers & Farmers Alliance.
Registration is available online at http://nmaonline.org/events.
Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations today! NMA's group rate of $209 ends January 31, 2012. Online reservations can be made under the event section of our website at nmaonline.org or by contacting the hotel directly at 1-520-544-5000. This year's convention will take place on February 14-18, 2012 at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort in Tucson, AZ.
USDA AWARDS UNIVERSITY STEC RESEARCH GRANT
USDA has awarded a research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway.
Dr. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators, and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef. This work will include the O104 strain that caused the recent outbreak in Germany. The project will focus on identifying hazards and assessing exposures that lead to STEC infections in cattle and on developing strategies to detect, characterize, and control these pathogens along the beef chain. This knowledge will then be used to find practical and effective STEC risk mitigation strategies.
CYCLING ADVENTURE AT 66th NMA ANNUAL CONVENTION
For the first time ever, NMA is offering an unforgettable bicycle journey as part of its Annual Convention. Join NMA members and staff on a ride through remote areas surrounding Tucson. The adventure will be led by expert guides from Southwest Trekking (http://www.swtrekking.com/). With nearly twenty years of experience in and around Tucson, they've logged more unique experiences and covered more miles than any other guide service in the area.
This group mountain biking tour will be suitable for all levels, taking different routes for different groups based on participants’ experience. Southwest Trekking will supply all the equipment; you only have to bring a suitable set of shoes and biking clothes, and a helmet if you've got one (otherwise one will be provided). There will be shuttle transportation to and from the ride site.
The early bird registration price of $125 goes up to $130 on February 1st.
HAVE QUESTIONS? NMA CONSULTANTS HAVE ANSWERS
CONSULTANT LIST
Erika Voogd - Humane Handling and Sanitation
Dr. William James - International Trade and Food Safety Inspection
Eugene Fox - Inspection Issues, HACCP, and SSOPs
Dr. Greg Sherman - HACCP, Slaughter, Processing, Microbiology, and SSOPs
Mack Graves - Marketing
NMA’s consultant members will once again be making themselves available for instant conferences during NMA’s 66th Annual Convention at the “Consultants Table” during the Suppliers Spotlight Social taking place 5:30pm-7:30pm on Thursday, February 16th. Come talk over your plant or regulatory issues during this time on a first come, first serve basis.
The consultants’ table will have experts in the fields of HACCP, sanitation, USDA regulation, import, export, animal welfare handling, process validation, food safety assessments, and many more. Please bring your questions to the attention of the expert consultants for advice.
The consultants will be happy to assist and advise all general members with concerns and inspection issues free of charge.
NMA is still currently accepting application forms for the Supplier Spotlight Social. Suppliers interested in a tabletop display should contact Etta Reyes at etta@nmaonline.org ASAP as space is limited.
2012 BEEF INDUSTRY SAFETY SUMMIT
The Beef Industry Food Safety Council will hold its 2012 Annual Beef Industry Safety Summit on March 7-9, 2012 in Tampa, FL. The Beef Industry Safety Summit is the premier beef safety meeting in the country. Marking the 10th anniversary, the 2012 event promises to be the best ever offering a dynamic agenda to attract the top leaders in beef safety. Attendees are given the opportunity to openly converse with industry competitors about the safety challenges facing all industry participants. This event delivers useful information, creative insights, and the latest research findings, while at the same time allowing time for dialogue and discussions among peers. During the Summit attendees will:
• Discuss current safety issues with representatives from all sectors of the beef industry during technical sessions
• Build their knowledge base on beef chain pathogens during research results presentations
• Network with colleagues, representatives from all industry sectors, government agency representatives and the research community
• Determine future courses of action to help each sector reduce foodborne pathogen incidence and enhance the safety of U.S. beef products
More information can be viewed at http://goo.gl/zaU0y. Registration is limited to Bifsco members.
FAKE MEAT IS TOO FAKE SAY CONSUMERS
According to last week’s Wall Street Journal, “Makers of meat substitutes, such as vegetarian turkey and fake sausages, are working to more closely mimic the taste and texture of the real thing.” But consumers increasingly have concerns about the processed nature of the products.
Nevertheless, concerns about food safety and the environment are, rightly or wrongly, driving some consumers to choose these dubiously flavored animal protein alternatives.
To entice consumers to try their products, fake meat manufacturers are experimenting with vegetable-based fat for marbling and extruded soy proteins to mimic muscle fibers. All because consumers want to feel their teeth tearing into real meat.
“Vegetarians -- people who never eat meat, seafood or poultry -- account for just 5% of the population, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group in Baltimore. But include ‘semi-vegetarians,’ people who consume meat with fewer than half of meals, and the number represents a sizable one in eight U.S. adults,” says the Journal.
Of course, these people may not be ‘semi-vegetarian’ so much as ‘eating a balanced diet,’ but it’s still unfortunate that any of them think some highly processed meat analog is the best way to get their veggies.
NEW STANDARDS FOR CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new meal requirements are intended to increase offerings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, reduce saturated fat, trans fats and sodium, and to set sensible calorie limits based on the age of the children being served.
Released as a USDA final rule, Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs’ new standards for meat include:
• In the National School Lunch Program, the rule requires schools to offer a minimum amount of meat/meat alternate daily (1 oz. eq for grades K-8, 2 oz eq. for 9-12), and provide a weekly required amount for each age/grade group.
• The rule does not require a daily meat/meat alternate in the School Breakfast Program.
The final rule can be viewed at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-26/pdf/2012-1010.pdf. The OFW memo regarding this rule can be viewed in the members’ only section of our website at www.nmaonline.org.
NATIONAL SUMMARY OF MEATS GRADED
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service released the summary report of meats graded for the calendar month of December 2011. For all quality-graded beef compared to last month, Choice went from 62.7 percent to 63.1 percent. Select went from 33.3 percent to 33.4 percent. And Prime went from 3.6 percent to 3.1 percent. For a copy of the entire report, which covers beef, lamb and mutton, NMA members send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Lauron Early or go to the website at www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/Grading.
Herd On The Hill
COALITION VOICES CONCERNS OVER GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION
The Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT), a group formed to support measures to promote economic growth through the expansion of international trade and investment, consisting of eighty-six business and agriculture groups including the National Meat Association, wrote a letter to President Obama on January 24th expressing their concerns over the potential impact of the recently proposed governmental reorganization of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
The coalition stated that “Congress and the business and agricultural communities have often noted the importance of having USTR as a separate entity within the Office of the President, so it can act responsively to negotiate, implement and enforce U.S. trade objectives.”
“Incorporating USTR into a larger agency would weaken rather strengthen the negotiating capability of the executive branch,” ECAT President Calman Cohen told Bloomberg.
The coalition expressed its support of the administration’s objective of improving government but has immediate concerns about the trade-agency reorganization proposal.
NEW NMA HUMANE HANDLING RESOURCES
National Meat Association Regulatory staff today issued two new NMA Resources, one on “Humane Handling: A Systematic Approach” and one “for Euthanasia of Non-ambulatory Livestock at Meat Plants.”
“Humane Handling: A Systematic Approach” aids establishments in understanding how to incorporate a systematic approach into their humane handling plan, while “Guidance for Euthanasia of Non-ambulatory Livestock at Meat Plants” provides guidance on humane euthanasia techniques. Both resources were written by Erika Voogd, President of Voogd Consulting, Inc. These Resources may be downloaded from the Resource Library in the members’ only section of our website at www.nmaonline.org.
FSIS EXCLUDES RAW PRODUCT FROM SALMONELLA TESTING
FSIS issued Notice 06-12 “Raw Product Destined for Ready-To-Eat Product Excluded from Salmonella Testing.” This Notice reissues content from FSIS Notice 65-10 to update the information to reflect procedures to follow under PHIS and to reflect current sampling frames, since the Agency is not currently sampling beef carcasses for Salmonella. It also advises inspection program personnel (IPP) that even though most raw meat and poultry products are subject to Salmonella testing, there is a narrow set of circumstances in which sampling is not warranted.
When an establishment processes all its products into ready-to-eat (RTE) product or moves all its raw products for further processing into RTE product at another federally inspected establishment, the raw products at that establishment are excluded from the not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) Salmonella verification testing program schedule.
This Notice can be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/06-12.pdf.
NEW VERIFICATION TESTING AND FOOD SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR RTEs
FSIS issued Notice 07-12, “Intensified Verification Testing and ‘For Cause’ Food Safety Assessments in Response to Ready-To-Eat Testing Results.” This Notice reissues the content of FSIS Notice 60-10, which expired on November 1, 2011. FSIS is reissuing this notice because it provides important information for scheduling a “for cause” Food Safety Assessment (FSA) performed with Intensified Verification Testing (IVT). It also specifies the conditions that trigger scheduling a “for cause” IVT FSA, including Salmonella positive results from ready-to-eat (RTE) product. This notice has been revised to clarify that FSIS will no longer perform IVT sampling in response to E. coli O57:H7 positive results from RTE products because routine sampling has been discontinued for the pathogen in these products. It can be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/07-12.pdf.
FOOD SAFETY AGENCIES HOLD PUBLIC CODEX MEETING
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA, FDA, and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) are sponsoring a public meeting on February 28, 2012 from 11 am to 12:30 pm. The objective of this meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, March 5-9, 2012 If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 33rd Session of the CCMAS by conference call, please use call-in number 1-888-810-5908 and participant code 21317.
The CCMAS is responsible for defining the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis and Sampling; serving as a coordinating body for Codex with other international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and quality assurance systems for laboratories; specifying the basis of final recommendations submitted to it by other bodies; considering, amending, and endorsing, methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity) Committees. More information regarding this meeting can be viewed at http://goo.gl/3irdS.
Edited by Lauron Early
January 30, 2011
NMA CONVENTION: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
A variety of meat industry employees can benefit from the networking and educational opportunities at NMA’s 66th Annual Convention. To be held in Tucson, Arizona at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort on February 14-18, 2012, this event will be a buffet of possibilities for any enterprising industry expert.
Executives – Meat industry executives and senior management will be able to circulate in style among their peers in the meetings and during the receptions. NMA draws the top decision makers and trend setters from around the country with exceptional educational opportunities and a convivial atmosphere. Whether enjoying teamwork at the Golf Tournament or collaboration during the Issues Over Breakfast session, there are multiple ways to expand your connections.
Food Safety/Food Quality –NMA’s event includes roundtable talks on not only the science of meat safety, but also the regulatory framework of meat inspection. Expert consultants, innovative laboratories and testing gurus will gather with quality assurance specialists and safety regulators to chart emerging challenges. Visit the Supplier Spolight Showcase for an outlook on materials and supplies, and sit in on discussions on technology and tactics at the Food Safety Forum.
Marketers – Whether its export markets, retail channels or restaurant supply chains, NMA brings the best of the best together to discuss how to increase, impress and empower consumers through market access and awareness. Mingle with experts after the Marketing Emerging Trends Forum and enjoy the Speaker Luncheon featuring Hugh Whaley from the U.S. Ranchers & Farmers Alliance.
Registration is available online at http://nmaonline.org/events.
Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations today! NMA's group rate of $209 ends January 31, 2012. Online reservations can be made under the event section of our website at nmaonline.org or by contacting the hotel directly at 1-520-544-5000. This year's convention will take place on February 14-18, 2012 at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort in Tucson, AZ.
USDA AWARDS UNIVERSITY STEC RESEARCH GRANT
USDA has awarded a research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway.
Dr. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators, and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef. This work will include the O104 strain that caused the recent outbreak in Germany. The project will focus on identifying hazards and assessing exposures that lead to STEC infections in cattle and on developing strategies to detect, characterize, and control these pathogens along the beef chain. This knowledge will then be used to find practical and effective STEC risk mitigation strategies.
CYCLING ADVENTURE AT 66th NMA ANNUAL CONVENTION
For the first time ever, NMA is offering an unforgettable bicycle journey as part of its Annual Convention. Join NMA members and staff on a ride through remote areas surrounding Tucson. The adventure will be led by expert guides from Southwest Trekking (http://www.swtrekking.com/). With nearly twenty years of experience in and around Tucson, they've logged more unique experiences and covered more miles than any other guide service in the area.
This group mountain biking tour will be suitable for all levels, taking different routes for different groups based on participants’ experience. Southwest Trekking will supply all the equipment; you only have to bring a suitable set of shoes and biking clothes, and a helmet if you've got one (otherwise one will be provided). There will be shuttle transportation to and from the ride site.
The early bird registration price of $125 goes up to $130 on February 1st.
HAVE QUESTIONS? NMA CONSULTANTS HAVE ANSWERS
CONSULTANT LIST
Erika Voogd - Humane Handling and Sanitation
Dr. William James - International Trade and Food Safety Inspection
Eugene Fox - Inspection Issues, HACCP, and SSOPs
Dr. Greg Sherman - HACCP, Slaughter, Processing, Microbiology, and SSOPs
Mack Graves - Marketing
NMA’s consultant members will once again be making themselves available for instant conferences during NMA’s 66th Annual Convention at the “Consultants Table” during the Suppliers Spotlight Social taking place 5:30pm-7:30pm on Thursday, February 16th. Come talk over your plant or regulatory issues during this time on a first come, first serve basis.
The consultants’ table will have experts in the fields of HACCP, sanitation, USDA regulation, import, export, animal welfare handling, process validation, food safety assessments, and many more. Please bring your questions to the attention of the expert consultants for advice.
The consultants will be happy to assist and advise all general members with concerns and inspection issues free of charge.
NMA is still currently accepting application forms for the Supplier Spotlight Social. Suppliers interested in a tabletop display should contact Etta Reyes at etta@nmaonline.org ASAP as space is limited.
2012 BEEF INDUSTRY SAFETY SUMMIT
The Beef Industry Food Safety Council will hold its 2012 Annual Beef Industry Safety Summit on March 7-9, 2012 in Tampa, FL. The Beef Industry Safety Summit is the premier beef safety meeting in the country. Marking the 10th anniversary, the 2012 event promises to be the best ever offering a dynamic agenda to attract the top leaders in beef safety. Attendees are given the opportunity to openly converse with industry competitors about the safety challenges facing all industry participants. This event delivers useful information, creative insights, and the latest research findings, while at the same time allowing time for dialogue and discussions among peers. During the Summit attendees will:
• Discuss current safety issues with representatives from all sectors of the beef industry during technical sessions
• Build their knowledge base on beef chain pathogens during research results presentations
• Network with colleagues, representatives from all industry sectors, government agency representatives and the research community
• Determine future courses of action to help each sector reduce foodborne pathogen incidence and enhance the safety of U.S. beef products
More information can be viewed at http://goo.gl/zaU0y. Registration is limited to Bifsco members.
FAKE MEAT IS TOO FAKE SAY CONSUMERS
According to last week’s Wall Street Journal, “Makers of meat substitutes, such as vegetarian turkey and fake sausages, are working to more closely mimic the taste and texture of the real thing.” But consumers increasingly have concerns about the processed nature of the products.
Nevertheless, concerns about food safety and the environment are, rightly or wrongly, driving some consumers to choose these dubiously flavored animal protein alternatives.
To entice consumers to try their products, fake meat manufacturers are experimenting with vegetable-based fat for marbling and extruded soy proteins to mimic muscle fibers. All because consumers want to feel their teeth tearing into real meat.
“Vegetarians -- people who never eat meat, seafood or poultry -- account for just 5% of the population, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group in Baltimore. But include ‘semi-vegetarians,’ people who consume meat with fewer than half of meals, and the number represents a sizable one in eight U.S. adults,” says the Journal.
Of course, these people may not be ‘semi-vegetarian’ so much as ‘eating a balanced diet,’ but it’s still unfortunate that any of them think some highly processed meat analog is the best way to get their veggies.
NEW STANDARDS FOR CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new meal requirements are intended to increase offerings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, reduce saturated fat, trans fats and sodium, and to set sensible calorie limits based on the age of the children being served.
Released as a USDA final rule, Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs’ new standards for meat include:
• In the National School Lunch Program, the rule requires schools to offer a minimum amount of meat/meat alternate daily (1 oz. eq for grades K-8, 2 oz eq. for 9-12), and provide a weekly required amount for each age/grade group.
• The rule does not require a daily meat/meat alternate in the School Breakfast Program.
The final rule can be viewed at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-26/pdf/2012-1010.pdf. The OFW memo regarding this rule can be viewed in the members’ only section of our website at www.nmaonline.org.
NATIONAL SUMMARY OF MEATS GRADED
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service released the summary report of meats graded for the calendar month of December 2011. For all quality-graded beef compared to last month, Choice went from 62.7 percent to 63.1 percent. Select went from 33.3 percent to 33.4 percent. And Prime went from 3.6 percent to 3.1 percent. For a copy of the entire report, which covers beef, lamb and mutton, NMA members send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Lauron Early or go to the website at www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/Grading.
Herd On The Hill
COALITION VOICES CONCERNS OVER GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION
The Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT), a group formed to support measures to promote economic growth through the expansion of international trade and investment, consisting of eighty-six business and agriculture groups including the National Meat Association, wrote a letter to President Obama on January 24th expressing their concerns over the potential impact of the recently proposed governmental reorganization of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
The coalition stated that “Congress and the business and agricultural communities have often noted the importance of having USTR as a separate entity within the Office of the President, so it can act responsively to negotiate, implement and enforce U.S. trade objectives.”
“Incorporating USTR into a larger agency would weaken rather strengthen the negotiating capability of the executive branch,” ECAT President Calman Cohen told Bloomberg.
The coalition expressed its support of the administration’s objective of improving government but has immediate concerns about the trade-agency reorganization proposal.
NEW NMA HUMANE HANDLING RESOURCES
National Meat Association Regulatory staff today issued two new NMA Resources, one on “Humane Handling: A Systematic Approach” and one “for Euthanasia of Non-ambulatory Livestock at Meat Plants.”
“Humane Handling: A Systematic Approach” aids establishments in understanding how to incorporate a systematic approach into their humane handling plan, while “Guidance for Euthanasia of Non-ambulatory Livestock at Meat Plants” provides guidance on humane euthanasia techniques. Both resources were written by Erika Voogd, President of Voogd Consulting, Inc. These Resources may be downloaded from the Resource Library in the members’ only section of our website at www.nmaonline.org.
FSIS EXCLUDES RAW PRODUCT FROM SALMONELLA TESTING
FSIS issued Notice 06-12 “Raw Product Destined for Ready-To-Eat Product Excluded from Salmonella Testing.” This Notice reissues content from FSIS Notice 65-10 to update the information to reflect procedures to follow under PHIS and to reflect current sampling frames, since the Agency is not currently sampling beef carcasses for Salmonella. It also advises inspection program personnel (IPP) that even though most raw meat and poultry products are subject to Salmonella testing, there is a narrow set of circumstances in which sampling is not warranted.
When an establishment processes all its products into ready-to-eat (RTE) product or moves all its raw products for further processing into RTE product at another federally inspected establishment, the raw products at that establishment are excluded from the not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) Salmonella verification testing program schedule.
This Notice can be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/06-12.pdf.
NEW VERIFICATION TESTING AND FOOD SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR RTEs
FSIS issued Notice 07-12, “Intensified Verification Testing and ‘For Cause’ Food Safety Assessments in Response to Ready-To-Eat Testing Results.” This Notice reissues the content of FSIS Notice 60-10, which expired on November 1, 2011. FSIS is reissuing this notice because it provides important information for scheduling a “for cause” Food Safety Assessment (FSA) performed with Intensified Verification Testing (IVT). It also specifies the conditions that trigger scheduling a “for cause” IVT FSA, including Salmonella positive results from ready-to-eat (RTE) product. This notice has been revised to clarify that FSIS will no longer perform IVT sampling in response to E. coli O57:H7 positive results from RTE products because routine sampling has been discontinued for the pathogen in these products. It can be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/07-12.pdf.
FOOD SAFETY AGENCIES HOLD PUBLIC CODEX MEETING
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA, FDA, and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) are sponsoring a public meeting on February 28, 2012 from 11 am to 12:30 pm. The objective of this meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, March 5-9, 2012 If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 33rd Session of the CCMAS by conference call, please use call-in number 1-888-810-5908 and participant code 21317.
The CCMAS is responsible for defining the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis and Sampling; serving as a coordinating body for Codex with other international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and quality assurance systems for laboratories; specifying the basis of final recommendations submitted to it by other bodies; considering, amending, and endorsing, methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity) Committees. More information regarding this meeting can be viewed at http://goo.gl/3irdS.
Back Issues and a printable version of Lean Trimmings and Herd on the Hill are always available in the members only section.