NATIONAL MEAT ASSOCIATION h 1970 Broadway, Suite 825, Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 763-1533 Fax (510) 763-6186 h Email Address: [email protected] h http://www.nmaonline.org

Edited by Kiran Kernellu

March 2, 2003

WELCOME TO NMA’S 57^TH ANNUAL CONVENTION AND MEATXPO ’03!

Welcome! Today’s events include:

8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Golf Tournament

4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Beef Committee Meeting (Miranda 6)

Small Stock Committee Meeting (Miranda 4)

Processed Meats Committee Meeting (Miranda 2)

These committee meetings are open to all registered attendees.

Tomorrow MEATXPO ‘03 opens at 1:45 p.m. Earlier in the day attendees can participate in Round Table discussions from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Preventing H7: What Works (Miranda 1);

Managing the Paper Trail (Miranda 3); The Workplace Q&A (Miranda 5); and COOL or NOT COOL! & Nutrition (Miranda 7).

The Pre-General Session Luncheon will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dr. Merle D. Pierson, USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, will speak during the General Session from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Dr. Pierson is internationally recognized for his work with HACCP systems and research on the reduction and control of foodborne pathogens. He served as professor of food microbiology and safety at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and also served as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. A native of South Dakota, he received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Iowa State University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Illinois.

Later in the day, please join us for some social events! From 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. there will be Wine Tasting in Pavilions 1-7 and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. will be the Welcome Reception. Join your friends and business associates at the end the first day of the trade show and convention by attending a reception of beverages and hors d’oeuvres. During this time there will be a special area for new NMA members to be welcomed with a champagne toast by the National Meat Association officers and the Membership Committee. Please help to welcome them to the association!

FSIS PUBLIC MEETING ON LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES RISK ASSESSMENT

FSIS held a public meeting on its draft Listeria monocytogenes Risk Assessment on February 26. Copies of the Olsson, Frank & Weeda memo on the meeting are available at the registration desk or you may contact Kiran Kernellu at [email protected] to request a copy.

HOUSE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS

Senior USDA officials will appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittees this month to present their funding needs.

· Wednesday, March 12, 2003, 9:30 a.m. – USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service

· Wednesday, March 12, 2003, 1:30 p.m. – USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs

· Thursday, March 20, 2003, 9:30 a.m. – Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services