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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113; FAX: (202) 690-0460
Andrea McNally
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2002--Undersecretary for Food Safety Elsa A. Murano today announced a Conference on Animal and Egg Production Food Safety to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The conference will be co-sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Food Safety, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration, and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR).
The conference will support and encourage an understanding of science-based regulatory systems as well as establish a link between various experts in the field and technical experts at UPR for future program development. This effort is expected to establish Puerto Rico as a food safety center of excellence for the Caribbean and Latin America.
"Outreach programs are critical to protecting public health," Murano said. "This conference is an opportunity to highlight and educate in the countries of the Americas the importance of science-based food safety systems in other parts of the world."
The conference will review food safety practices and research at the animal production level and provide information on industry quality assurance activities. Items to be discussed at the conference include HACCP-based animal production food safety principles, seafood safety, animal feeds, backyard slaughter, antimicrobial resistance, and biosecurity.
The conference will be held July 9-11 at the Caribe Hilton San Juan Hotel, San Geronimo Grounds, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Participation in the conference will be limited to available seating. The conference will be in Spanish although translation devices will be available for non-Spanish speaking guests.
To register for the meeting, contact either Mary Harris at (202) 690-6497, fax (202) 690-6500, email mary.harris@fsis.usda.gov, or Dr. Edna Negron at (787) 265-5410, fax (787) 265-5410, email ed_negron@rumad.uprm.edu. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Mary Harris before June 27.
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For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460