FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: NMA
FSIS AGREES TO HOLD AGENCY/INDUSTRY IMPLEMENTATION MEETING
OAKLAND, CA, January 2, 1997 -- NMA has learned today that Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Thomas Billy is scheduling a joint agency/industry meeting to discuss the implementation of Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) and E.coli Biotype I testing.
NMA's Director of Regulatory Issues Ken Mastracchio requested an agency/industry meeting in a letter to Mr. Billy on December 30, 1996. He wrote: "...we believe that it would be in the best interests of the industry and the Agency that you hold another meeting before implementation to address these concerns and jointly explore resolutions."
Mr. Billy informed NMA today that a meeting will be held on January 23, 1997 in Washington DC. Attendees will include FSIS regional directors and area supervisors and meat industry representatives.
Responding to the announcement, NMA's Executive Director Rosemary Mucklow said, "We commend Mr. Billy for his immediate attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with the Agency to make the implementation of Sanitation SOPs as smooth a transition as possible for the meat industry."
National Meat Association is a non-profit trade association representing meat packers and processors, as well as equipment manufacturers and suppliers who provide services to the meat industry. The association, with over 600 members throughout the United States, includes membership in Canada, Australia and Mexico.
-30-