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PRESS RELEASE Grocery
Manufacturers Association Applauds APEC Leaders for Launching the Partnership
Training Institute Network for Food Safety
Last update: 11:24 a.m. EST Nov. 24, 2008 "Food safety is a
key concern for GMA and its member companies, and we are pleased to see that
APEC has taken such a constructive and practical approach to the issue,"
said GMA Senior Vice President and Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs
Officer Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D. "The APEC PTIN is particularly welcome
in light of the recent food safety incidents that have occurred in the
region. This initiative, in helping build regulatory capacity in food safety,
will help government, industry and other key stakeholders work together to
better assure the safety of the food supply chain in the Asia Pacific." The APEC PTIN is
critically important as concerns about food safety in the Asia Pacific region
have risen sharply in recent months and years, a fact reinforced by the
initiative's high-level endorsement by APEC heads of government. This
multi-year initiative will provide assistance to APEC Member Economies to
improve regulator and manufacturer technical competence and understanding of
food safety management, and thus will substantially improve food safety in
the APEC community and beyond. In addition, the APEC PTIN aligns with GMA's "Four Pillars" plan to improve the safety
of food imports, an integrated approach with prevention as its centerpiece.
Specifically, the new APEC project helps to fulfill Pillar Three,
"Building the Capacity of Foreign Governments." The APEC PTIN is not
intended to be an actual "bricks and mortar" facility, but instead
will serve as a focal point for coordinating the many food safety training
institutes across the Asia Pacific region. In this context, the APEC PTIN
will design and implement various training programs every year, develop a
core curriculum for food safety training for use across APEC, and assist APEC
Member Economies in developing food safety strategies. The APEC PTIN will
foster a unified and consistent approach to food safety capacity building and
management, one that aligns with international best practices. In this way
the initiative will directly address the recognized need to improve regulator
and manufacturer technical competence and understanding of food safety
management. APEC is the premier
forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in
the Asia-Pacific region. The forum is comprised of 21 member economies, which
account for a large percentage of global food exports, making the APEC PTIN a
major success for global food safety. The 21 members of APEC are: Grocery Manufacturers
Association (GMA) represents the world's leading food, beverage and consumer
products companies. The association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and
growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply
through scientific excellence. The GMA Board of Directors is comprised of
chief executive officers from the association's member companies. The $2.1
trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14
million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the
nation's economy. SOURCE Grocery
Manufacturers Association http://www.gmaonline.org
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