Food Protection Trends - November/December 2017 - 523

for awards. This year we had 16 submitted, up from 6 in
2016. However, you cannot win if you do not apply. Delegates and Presidents are required to be IAFP Members to
meet compliance so double check before applying for any
award(s). If you create a new Web site, let Susan know.
If you have a Web site, keep it updated at least twice a
year. Some sites contain outdated information or are no
longer active. For your Affiliate meetings, take advantage
of meeting materials, membership certificates, the IAFP
slide show, and the updated Affiliate pop-up exhibit booth.
Please submit briefs/photos on your Affiliate meetings if
you would like to be included in the Affiliate View. We lost
the North Dakota Affiliate during the past year but gained
Colorado as a new charter in 2017. Several other areas
have expressed interest, with a couple in the developmental stages.
Affiliate Web sites: Neil Bogart reminded attendees
about the template option, SquareSpace, on building
Web sites.

Representatives from Argentina, Mexico and
Colombia: Help certify small manufacturers to
be more informed. Small manufacturers need to
request lots of money to even get to a baseline.
Colombia Affiliate sought experts (SGS) to place
purchases and reduce costs in helping all the certifications, which have become a business in that
auditors don't have experience, yet find the wrong
thing. Perhaps create an SOP on how to certify
so the Affiliate can help provide coaching, especially on research. The FDA 'practiced' with other
countries outside the U.S. Advantage now in U.S.
is that the businesses have to fulfill two requirements for national and international certifications.
Support manufacturers on the limits of what FDA
can and cannot answer. Help businesses form
coalitions to subsidize (decreasing costs), especially auditors.

Representatives from Minnesota and Southeast
Asia: SQF certification vs. FSMA: Is the gap
larger than we think? Local Affiliate Web sites:
create searchable links to resources to help; link
into sites like the FSPCA, PQCI training or more
broad; local extension through universities; local
outreach to invite small organizations to Affiliate
meetings. Connect small manufacturers with available training through various groups, local, national and international. Cover awareness at Affiliate
meetings, involve state regulatory, etc.

Representatives from Ohio, Carolinas, Georgia,
Australia and New Zealand: List and poll small
manufacturers; ask regulators within Affiliate
groups to help with a list then create a special
event to invite them. Australia Affiliate has annual
food safety meeting to which small manufacturers
are invited; workshops are held on various topics,
including for dual operator butchers who slaughter and process sausage, etc. Australia Affiliate
developed templates/codes of practice for this
industry. Listen to media and the 'skuttlebutt' of
what food safety issues people are struggling with,
then develop related educational materials that
are quick and easy to read at no charge.

Representatives from British Columbia, UAE, and
Washington: Hold FSMA workshop at Affiliate
meetings, focusing on small manufacturers; Dubai
giving simple intro at this point; Washington is
working with larger companies (as mentors) to
provide small companies with training (large
companies can provide space for FDA to conduct
training); connecting with trade groups to get
information out there; team with local universities,
agricultural and local public health departments;
create an Affiliate 'specialist.'

Representatives from Florida, etc.: Identify the
small manufacturers (with help from trade associations?) and the challenges they face; Affiliates
can help support and provide PCQI training.

Roundtable Discussion: Fifteen minutes were devoted
to the roundtable discussions about the topic of "How
can Affiliates support small manufacturers under the
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in our respective
regions?" One person from each table briefly relayed their
respective group's discussion, as summarized below:
1.

Representatives from China, Chinese in North
America, Hong Kong and Taiwan: Food exporters in Asia-Pacific area are mostly small to midsize companies, with items such as seafood and
spices. It's hard for small manufacturers to send
personnel to the U.S. to get FSPCA PCQI training for preparing Food Safety Plans. In addition,
language proficiency is an issue. Good strategy
would be that a local Affiliate can have Lead
Instructors for PCQI so training can be delivered
in local languages, and the industry can save
money in travel costs. For example, Taiwan Affiliate has two Lead Instructors and began PCQI
training in Taiwan in June 2017.

Representatives from Quebec, Colorado and UK:
Hold webinars; provide free or partially-funded
help; clarify confusion and inform SMEs; include
FSMA information in college courses.

Representatives from Africa: Focus has been on
the growers so small manufacturers end up being
the processors who want to have Web-based
training (a webinar series started out of Canada).
Simplify the standards so all levels of the organization can understand. Have trainers come into
the facilities to train for more 'real-life knowledge.'
Stress the 'why' you are doing something to garner better understanding (explain the benefits).
Provide different ways of receiving information out
of full-day and hour-long meetings with speakers;
provide food or serve at a common place like a
bar or a facility that offers tours to entice participants.

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