The American Meat Institute (AMI) announced that it will sponsor five education programs at the 2015 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), the world's largest annual feed, meat and poultry industry trade show, scheduled for Jan. 27-29, 2015, in Atlanta, Ga.   

The “Recalls 101 Workshop,” scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, will provide in-depth instruction to help attendees better understand the issues and challenges involved in recalls and public health investigations for meat and poultry processors. The session, which is $150 for IPPE registrants, features four discussion segments: “Epidemiology 101,” presented by Andrew Milkowski, Ph.D., adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin; “Investigation Process and Outcomes: FSIS Perspective,” given by Regina Tan, DVM, DACVPM, director of recall management and technical analysis staff at USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS); “Product Recalls: Regulations, Issues and Challenges,” offered by Barbara Masters, DVM, senior policy advisor at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC; and “Media and Customer Response,” presented by Eric Mittenthal, AMI’s vice president of public affairs. A brief question and answer period will close the session.

AMI will also sponsor several additional free education sessions during IPPE.   

The “Regulatory Update and Compliance Sessions,” scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, will cover pertinent regulatory issues facing the meat and poultry industry, including country-of-origin labeling (COOL), and will provide guidance on noncompliance records (NRs) and Farm Service Agencies (FSAs). AMI’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel Mark Dopp will provide the regulatory update, while the North American Meat Association’s (NAMA) Executive Associate Director of Regulatory Issues Norm Robertson will discuss NRs and FSAs. This session is free to all registered IPPE attendees. 

The "Worker Safety and Human Resources Issues for the Meat and Poultry Industry” workshop will address key topic areas including employee retention and rising health care and insurance costs, as well as issues related to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the regulatory environment. Neil Wasser, chairman of the executive committee of Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, will present an OSHA update, while John Cruickshank, a board certified labor and employment lawyer from Alaniz Schraeder Linker Farris Mayes, LLP, will discuss employee retention. This free, two-hour workshop is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.     

“Antibiotic Use in the Meat and Poultry Industry,” free for IPPE attendees, will examine the complexities of antibiotic use in food animals, including the pertinent issues of animal health, regulatory compliance and antibiotic resistance. University of Georgia Professor Charles Hofacre, DVM, Ph.D., will present the session entitled, “Antibiotic Use in the Livestock and Poultry Industry: Principles of Judicious Use.” Center for Food Integrity CEO Charlie Arnot will discuss “Consumers and Antibiotic Use: Perspectives and Marketing.” This two-hour workshop is scheduled from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.      

The two-hour, “Biosecurity: PEDv and Foot & Mouth Disease” program will discuss the most pressing biosecurity challenges posed by PEDv and foot and mouth disease, and will offer attendees practical advice to maintain healthy herds. Paul Sundberg, the National Pork Board’s vice president of science and technology, will present the PEDv update, while Darrel K. Styles, DVM, Ph.D., veterinary medical officer at USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), will provide the foot and mouth disease update. This session, free for IPPE registrants, will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, and will be translated into Spanish.   

For more information on any of the above sessions, and to register to attend IPPE, visit www.ippexpo.org. 

Source: IPPE