Due to several factors, the 2008 AFI Convention, originally slated for Morocco, will instead be held in the U.S. The Board of Directors will discuss the issue of foreign conventions at its September meeting. We are exploring several options and should have a site selected shortly. Anyone who would like to offer input on a convention site should do so as soon as possible.
A meeting to discuss proposed changes to the AFI Cashew Standard will be held Monday, Aug. 13 at the offices of FTS Labs. Anyone needing information on the meeting should contact the AFI office.
The Thai Food Processors’ Association filed a request for a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on canned pineapple from Thailand. With Maui Pineapple ceasing production of canned pineapple as of June 30, there is no domestic production of canned pineapple. The petition asks the Department of Commerce to revoke the antidumping duty order.
Those attending ANUGA are encouraged to make plans to attend AFI’s ANUGA Reception. The reception will take place at 6 p.m., Sunday, October 14 in the convention center where ANUGA is held. There is no fee to attend the reception and members are encouraged to bring guests. Details, including a registration form, sponsorship information and details on advertising in the event’s program, are available at www.afius.org.
AFI Town Meeting in Washington, DC
AFI’s Annual Town Meeting will be held September 25-26 at the Doubletree Hotel in Washington, DC. Key officials with government agencies such as FDA, Customs and USDA have been invited to speak, as have several members of Congress. The program will run all day on the 25th and end with a lunch on the 26th. Members are encouraged to arrange meetings with their Congressional representatives on the afternoon of the 26th (AFI can help arrange those meetings). Those arriving on the 24th are welcome to attend a reception being hosted at 6 p.m. by Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg at the company’s offices. Complete details will be sent to all members shortly.
AFI has reserved a block of rooms at the Doubletree at a rate of $209 per night. Please contact the hotel directly, toll-free at 1-800-492-5195, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. or via fax at 202-332-8436 to reserve a room. The room block expires August 27.
I’m sure members have seen at least some the media coverage surrounding food safety, particularly the safety of food imports. While China is the country most often mentioned, all this talk could lead to changes in procedures and regulations on imports from all countries.
The AFI Executive Committee is looking to proactively address this issue by developing a strategy to help members and the association take steps to demonstrate the food import industry’s commitment to importing and marketing safe product.
In the meantime, several pieces of legislation have been or will be introduced. These proposed laws are focused directly at food imports. Some of the new enforcement authorities that have been proposed are:
- Substantial “per-line-item” import inspection fees
- A requirement of FDA certification that the food importer has demonstrated that each item of food was produced under standards that meet or exceed U.S. standards
- A requirement for inspection of foreign establishments and certification of those establishments.
- Authority to suspend the ability of a food establishment to operate; civil penalties of $10,000 per violation.
- Inspection of 100 percent of incoming shipping containers
AFI and other members of the National Coalition of Food Importing Associations are discussing the many proposals and are formulating a strategy to address them. Part of the strategy entails alerting other industry associations of the pitfalls of the proposed legislation and getting them to support the work of the coalition.
Without industry input, these and other proposals will lead to substantial increases in costs and tremendous disruptions on the food supply without the desired result of increased food safety. A large industry coalition was very effective in addressing issues regarding the Bioterrorism Act. However, unlike the Bioterrorism Act, much of the legislation being introduced is focused squarely at food imports. That means if other industry groups don’t join the coalition, AFI and other members of the NCFIA must be prepared to go it alone.
These issues make the upcoming Town Meeting an extremely important event. It’s crucial we get a good turnout because we need to create a face for the food import industry. A good turnout will ensure our speakers realize many businesses will be impacted by these proposals and that many of them need to be reconsidered.
Please make plans to attend the Town Meeting and please watch for notices from AFI regarding any developments in food import legislation.
