ADSA TODAY 

   ADSA/ASAS Midwest Annual Meeting -- Plan to attend the 2002 Midwest Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Sections of ADSA and ASAS on March 18-20 at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines, Iowa. The meeting headquarters is the Savery Hotel. For the most current information such as housing, registration, and program, click here to visit the Midwest ADSA-ASAS web site.

Labeling Requirements for FSIS-Regulated Products - The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation. Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff has produced a "Labeling 101" PowerPoint presentation on labeling requirements for FSIS-Regulated Product. The Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff is using this presentation as a learning tool at food labeling workshops for industry in various location throughout the United States. The complete presentation is accessible at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/larc/Label101/index.htm

USDA/HHS Food Safety Education Conference Set for September 18 - 20 in Orlando, Florida - The title is "Thinking Globally - Working Locally: A Conference on Food Safety Education - 2nd National Conference for Food Safety Educators" - To " ... focus on the food safety education implications of the global nature of the food supply, while at the same time recognizing that worldwide food safety education is very much a local effort. Current trends will also be assessed to determine the future direction of food safety education ..." - Sponsors are the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and HHS's Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention n cooperation with the Partnership for Food Safety Education - Questions may be directed to the USDA Graduate School at 202 314 3459; e-mail: fsis.outreach@usda.gov - Details are posted at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/orlando2002/index.htm

Microbial Food Safety Issues are addressed in a new report issued by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), titled "Emerging Microbiological Food Safety Issues: Implications for Control in the 21st Century" - The text of the report was posted on February 26 on IFTs home page - According to the IFT February 26 News Release on the report: " ... current science providing the foundation for the safety of our food is not sufficient to protect everyone against all the emerging health issues associated with a diverse food supply. And with increasing populations of elderly consumers, individuals dependent upon immunosuppressant drugs, children and others, the likelihood of illness among susceptible groups is growing. 'Current technologies and production methods cannot provide a food supply that is completely free of pathogenic microorganisms,' according to report co-author Douglas A. Archer of the University of Florida ... The quest for control is not limited only to bacterial agents like E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. 'Parasites, viruses and biotoxins all present food safety challenges,' according to report co-author Lee-Ann Jaykus of North Carolina State University. 'These pathogens have properties that make them quite different from the common bacterial agents of foodborne disease.' The expert report notes that the ability to link food to human illness is improving, and stresses the need for increasing surveillance of foodborne diseases to help determine causes, improve controls and prevention. It states that increases in data-generation and -sharing in order to improve risk management systems would also prove beneficial at enhancing food safety. The report also notes that greater attention to preventing cross-contamination and undercooking at home and at food service outlets may have a more positive impact on the public's health than further reductions in the already small numbers of microorganisms occasionally present in the food supply could provide. Greater communication with consumers to improve food choices and handling practices will be essential for reductions in foodborne illness, according to the report. Among its seven sections, the report addresses: procedures from farm to table to significantly reduce illness due to mishandling, processes to recognize and respond to outbreaks and to reduce their scope, recommendations necessary for reducing pathogenic influence at every step-from production to consumption-and guidance to enhance monitoring, data generation, and risk assessment ..." - The report is posted at www.ift.org/govtrelations/microfs/

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

Farm Bill Update - The full US Senate about 1 pm on Wednesday, February 13, approved its version of the HR 2646, the Farm Security Act - According to a February 13 House Agriculture Committee News Release: " ...House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) said Wednesday's passage of a Senate farm bill should signal immediate work to begin on reconciling House and Senate versions with sights on the 2002 crop year. Combest has directed that working meetings begin immediately without waiting for the formal announcement of Members to the House-Senate Conference. The U.S. Senate must formally report S. 1731 to the U.S. House of Representatives before Members of the House and Senate can be named to the Conference Committee for HR 2646 'The Farm Security Act.' ... The House passed the "Farm Security Act" (HR 2646) on October 5, 2001 by a two-to one margin, 291 to 120. The Senate's 'Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act' (S 1731) passed 58 to 40 shortly before 1p.m.Wednesday ..." - Additional information is posted on the House Ag Committee www site at: http://agriculture.house.gov and on the Senate Ag Committee site at: http://agriculture.senate.gov/ - Details should be in the February 13 issue of the Congressional Record, which will be available on February 14 on Congress' www site at http://thomas.loc.gov - The House Ag Committee News Release is posted at http://www.agriculture.house.gov/press/pr020213fb.html

GLOBAL ISSUES

Regulation of Ag Biotech Crops and Foods in the European Union - The European Commission on February 22 issued a News Release, titled: "Responsible management of GMOs: Commission proposes EU implementation of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety," which states: " ... The European Commission has decided to propose a Regulation on the cross-border movements of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The aim is to establish safeguards at international level for transfer, handling and use of GMOs. The Commission believes that these measures are essential for protection of biodiversity at international level, with special focus on developing countries. The proposal will implement into EU legislation the provisions of the United Nations' Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ... In parallel, the Commission is preparing a Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Biosafety Protocol, which aims at ensuring the ratification of the Protocol by the EU ... The Commission's proposal contains detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol's provisions. It is an integrated part of the EU legal framework on Biotechnology. It complements existing EU legislation on biotechnology, mainly in the field of exporter obligations and information sharing at international level. It will not entail any modification of the existing legal framework on GMOs ... The main elements of the proposal are: It introduces a notification obligation for exports of GMOs intended for deliberate release into the environment. As an exporter, the EU must follow the exporter obligations contained in the Protocol's information procedure, which currently do not exist in EU legislation. Some limited additional requirements are also introduced to maintain coherence with EC legislation on biotechnology and ensure practical implementation. It introduces an information obligation at international level on EU practices, legislation and decisions on GMOs. It sets rules for identification of GMOs for exports in line with the latest EU developments (the Labelling and Tracability proposal). As an Importer of GMOs, the Protocol allows the European Union to utilise existing EU legislation on the basis that it is consistent with the requirements of the Protocol, which has been proven to be the case after careful assessment. To this extend, this Proposal does not cover imports and intra-EU movements of GMOs as such, but only refers to the relevant EU legislation. The only exception concerns unintentional transboundary movements of GMOs, where the Protocol's rules for information apply ..." - The complete EC February 22 News Release is posted at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/299|0|RAPID&lg=EN

International Discussion of the Need for Labeling of Ag Biotech Crops and Foods - The Food Labeling Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is developing "Recommendations for the Labeling of Foods Obtained through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification/Genetic Engineering" - The US Position on the a draft of the recommendations is that " ... the text of the draft guidelines under discussion fails to address the practical implications that must be considered by countries before mandatory process-based labeling is implemented. More specifically, the text fails to address many technical matters that are yet unresolved and are potentially problematic in the implementation of such labeling. The United States calls attention to Attachment A of CX/FL 01/7 which raises a number of significant issues of a practical nature. The United States believes CCFL should more carefully and more thoroughly explore and consider the numerous and potentially problematic implications of any process-based labeling before recommending such an approach for an international standard. Thus, the United States believes that it is premature for these draft guidelines to advance. In summary, the United States believes that the Committee could advance Draft guidelines relating to labeling for reasons of significant changes in composition, nutritional value and intended use of foods derived from modern biotechnology. However, the United States strongly believes that the Committee should hold in abeyance any further discussion on mandatory process-based labeling until more comprehensive information is available regarding the implications of such labeling, particularly information relating the costs and impact on international trade ..." - This position will be put forward by the U.S. Delegate at the Codex Committee on Food Labeling session meeting in Halifax, Canada, May 6-10, 2002 - The complete US Position statement is posted at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/codex/biotech02.htm - Questions may be directed to the US Codex Office at 202 205 7760; fax: 202 720 3157; e-mail: uscodex@usda.gov 

Update on the new European Union Food Safety Authority (EFSA) - The European Commission is Seeking an Executive Director for the EFSA - In a February 27 News Release, the European Commission stated: " ... The Authority is a major component of the wide ranging reform of EU food law launched by the Prodi Commission in its January 2000 White Paper on Food Safety. In taking these reforms forward, David Byrne, the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, has demonstrated that food safety is his top priority. The Regulation forming the legal basis for the Authority was adopted in record time on 28th January 2002 and thus cleared the way for immediate action to get the Authority fully operational at its temporary Brussels' location this year. The launch of the procedure to find the Executive Director is the second major initiative of the past few weeks, the first being the procedure to identify suitable candidates for the Management Board of the Authority which was launched on 1st February ... The Regulation that will provide the legal basis for the new European Food Safety Authority was formally adopted by the Council of Ministers on the 28th January 2002 and entered into force last Thursday. This Regulation provides a framework of fundamental principles, definitions and requirements for food safety and establishes the structural and operational basis for the European Food Safety Authority ... Immediately following the adoption of the Regulation, the Commission published a call for expression of interests for the Management Board in the national press, the Official Journal of the European Communities and on the EFSA website(1st February). Today, the next phase has been launched, with a similar wide cast of the net to start the process to recruit an Executive Director ... The appointment of the Management Board, which is composed of 14 members and a representative of the Commission follows a procedure involving the Council and the European Parliament. The Commission will identify a list of suitable candidates from which the Council will choose after having heard the views of the European Parliament ... The Management Board will subsequently appoint the Executive Director on the basis of a list of suitable candidates following an open recruitment process. It is for the purposes of creating this list that today's action has been launched ... The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring that the Authority becomes a major voice on food safety matters ... The main task of the Authority is to provide scientific advice and support for Community legislation and policies in all fields having a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety. One of the first tasks of the Executive Director will be to constitute the Authority's new Scientific Committee and Panels, and to recruit the necessary specialised staff for the administration and the scientific work of the agency. The Executive Director will also have to work closely with the national food safety authorities across Europe. He or she will be in charge of establishing the Advisory Forum comprising the heads of these national authorities, which will assist the EFSA in scientific and technical matters. Until the Authority's management is in place, the European Commission will continue the preparatory work to ensure that the Authority can become operational as soon as possible. The existing scientific committees will continue to function until the Authority's Scientific Committee and Panels are operational to avoid any disruption in scientific advice on food safety matters ..." - For more detail see: http://www.efsa.eu.int and http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/efa/index_en.html and http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/press/press135_en.pdf - The EC February 27 News Release is posted at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/328|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=

Global Carbon Cycle Program - Notices of Intent to Seek Grant Funding sought by NOAA, details of which are posted at http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gcc/index/html - Full proposals due by March 29, except for repeat hydrography proposals to be jointly considered with the National Science Foundation (NSF), which must be received no later than March 5 - NOAA notes that " ... The notice describing the Program and funding area descriptions for FY 2002 was published on May 16, 2001 ... in a notice entitled NOAA Climate and Global Change Program. The program description, background and requirements, as well as guidelines for applications are included in that notice and are not repeated here ... The U.S. Interagency Carbon Cycle Science Program (CCSP) seeks to answer two overarching questions: (1) How large and variable are the dynamic reservoirs and fluxes of carbon within the Earth system, and how might carbon cycling change and be changed in future years, decades and centuries?, and (2) What are our options for managing carbon sources and sinks to achieve an appropriate balance of risk, costs, and benefits to society? For more detailed information on interagency priorities, science planning and agency roles, please consult the Internet at: http://www.carboncyclescience.gov - NOAA's participation in the CCSP focuses on three main goals: (1) Quantifying spatial patterns and variability of carbon sources and sinks at global to regional scales; (2) Documenting the fate of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere and oceans; and (3) Improving future climate predictions by incorporating a dynamic understanding of the carbon cycle into models. To achieve these goals, the GCC program focuses on oceanic and atmospheric observations, process-oriented field studies and modeling ..." - NOAA Global Carbon Cycle Program Contact: Irma duPree at 301 427 2089 ext. 107; e-mail: Irma.duPree@noaa.gov or Lisa Dilling at 301 427 2089 ext. 106, e-mail: Dilling@gp.noaa.gov or Krisa Arzayus at 301 427 2089 ext. 183 e-mail: Krisa.Arzayus@noaa.gov - NOAA January 14 Federal Register: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-898-filed

EPA Seeks Research Grant Proposals on the Benefits and Costs of US Environmental Protection Programs - In the January 23 Federal Register, EPA announces that the Agency, in cooperation with the National Science Foundation, is seeking " ... individual research proposals of up to 3 years duration, that will contribute to the development of practical approaches for estimating the benefits and costs of environmental policies and improving decision making about environmental issues. This document details the requirements for applications for research support that will be considered by the Federal research partnership. Grants will be awarded following peer review ..." Applications are due to EPA by May 15 - EPA Contacts: Technical Contacts: Susan Carrillo at 202 564 4664; e-mail: Carrillo.Susan@EPA.gov, Robert O'Connor at 703 292 7263; e-mail: ROConnor@NSF.gov, Cheryl Eavey at 703 292 7269; e-mail: CEavey@NSF.gov - Administrative contact: Susan Carrillo at 202 564 4664; e-mail: Carrillo.Susan@EPA.gov - The complete program announcement is posted at http://www.epa.gov/ncerqa, under 'announcements' - The required forms for applications with instructions are posted at http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/forms/downlf.html - EPA January 23 Federal Register: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-1617-filed