IFFA, the world's leading meat industry trade fair, will be held May 4-9, 2019, in Frankfurt, Germany. During the IFFA, the German Butchers' Association (DFV) will organize their renowned international quality competitions for meat products. In the past, numerous American producers of traditional high-quality meat products have been awarded medals and trophies in their competitions.

In recent years, however, the shipping of meat and meat products from non-EU countries into Germany for quality testing has become increasingly difficult due to a growing number of EU regulations. A variety of documents and certificates must be presented at the German customs office. Experience shows that these rules are very strictly monitored, which means that product samples, which are submitted without customs clearance for evaluation at IFFA, cannot be accepted by the DFV. 

Nevertheless, the DFV would like to enable American producers to participate in their international quality competition. Therefore, they have formed an alliance again with the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) to hold the DFV/AAMP Quality Competition for Sausage and Ham, in the United States. The competition will take place January 21-24, 2019, in Madison, Wisconsin. 

“With an award from the German Butchers’ Association, our members demonstrate the international competitiveness and quality of their products,” said Chris Young, AAMP executive director. “These awards can be an important tool for them to market their products and company.” 

The German Butchers' Association will ensure that independent and experienced German jurors carry out the tests according to their standards and to the established evaluation specifications. Both the conduct of the competition, as well as the certificates and medals, will be identical to those held during the IFFA in Frankfurt.

The registration deadline for the competition is December 18, 2018. The participation fee is $110, per product. The fee includes the testing costs, medals, certificates, as well as the corresponding trophies. Discounts will be available for certain number of entries. 

For more information or to register, visit www.aamp.com/2019-dfv-aamp/

Award Ceremony

The awarding of certificates, medals and trophies will take place on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., during the IFFA, held at the trade fair grounds in Frankfurt, Germany. The president of the German Butchers’ Association, Herbert Dohrmann, and representatives of the Messe Frankfurt will award them.