To: NMA Members

From: Erica Smith

Director of Communications

Re: What you need to know NOW about handling a Product Recall

In light of recent industry events surrounding the massive recall of ground beef, NMA is hosting a 2-hour Recall Teleconference on Friday, September 5, 11:00am – 1:00pm PST to provide NMA members with the essential basics of how firms should handle a market withdrawal or recall. We believe that a focused, 2-hour briefing is the most effective and cost-efficient way for NMA members to receive the information they need in a timely manner without creating the hassles associated with travel, hotels and time away from your place of business.

While USDA does not have legal authority to initiate a recall, and it is therefore considered a "voluntary" action on the part of the firm affected, firms are subject to the substantial authority of USDA when it requests that a company take product off the market.

NMA’s Recall Teleconference will provide practical operational, regulatory, legal and public relations background information to help members prepare a framework on which to base their actions. The guest speakers on this call are experts in their field with experience in handling these situations.

Prior to the conference, NMA will fax each participating member a packet of materials to guide them through the conference. Following along with the packet during the presentation is essential. Also, each participating member firm is encouraged to include all staff who would be involved in such activities to join the Teleconference on speaker-phone.

There will be some opportunity for questions and answers for the purpose of clarification; however, this will not be a forum to handle individual company’s situations. As part of the total package, participating firms will have the opportunity to follow-up the Teleconference with a question to the presenters at no additional fee.

To participate, contact NMA before 5:00pm PST on September 3, 1997. The cost per member firm is $110 (non-member $135). Information packets and dial-in instructions will be faxed to participants on Thursday, September 4. If you have any questions, please contact the NMA office.