1)The Meeting Was Called to Order by the Jeff Abels, Chair at 3:02 Pm ET

Meeting Summary

FSS Section Conference Call
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 / 3:00 pm ET

Participants: Jeff Abels – Chair (FTS); Lars Reimann – Vice Chair (Eurofins); Tom Hungerford (S-F Analytical Labs); Martin Mitchell (Certified Labs); Douglas Leonard (ASB / L-A-B); Michael Flournoy (Microbac); John Bellinger (Food Safety Net); John Reuther (Eurofins); Grant Michelson (Michelson Labs); Michelle Briscoe (Brooks Rand); Kelley Feist (ACLASS); Richard Bright (ACIL COO); Milton Bush (ACIL CEO); Mike Olson (ACIL); and Robert Uttenweiler (ACIL SEO).

1)The meeting was called to order by the Jeff Abels, Chair at 3:02 pm ET.

2)Introduction of Members and GuestsAll

3)ACIL Antitrust StatementUttenweiler

a)The Antitrust Statement was accepted

4)Review of Meeting Summary from August 21, 2013

a)There was a general discussion about the agenda with two corrections

b)The motion to accept with changes was made by Martin Mitchell and seconded by Lars Reimann

c)The summary was unanimously accepted

5)ACIL Value Proposition – Richard Bright / Milton Bush

a)The ACIL Value Proposition for each Section is drafted

i)The Value Proposition explains the core values for ACIL and adds Section-specific information

b)Final Update for Annual Meeting in Scottsdale on October 6-9, 2013

i)Turnout is very good with over 100 members registered

ii)Please register right away if you haven’t already done so

6)US FDA CFIA HC RCC Invitation for Stakeholders Comments

a)Below is an invitation for comments between FDA and Canadian counterpart

i)The issue is that the US / FSMA is working with Canada on their new Food Safety initiative

ii)ACIL was not involved in the original discussion

iii)Either ACIL or individual companies should be involved in this discussion

iv)Canada tends to rely on private company testing in general

(1)US tends to rely on private company testing only for imports

b)What is the best way for ACIL to proceed?

i)FSS may schedule a conference call prior to the annual meeting to review and discuss content of the documents below and how to approach accredited laboratories

ii)Action item for FSS members: Please read the documents and those interested in helping on conference call to discuss strategy should send available to Milton Bush and Bob Uttenweiler – a call will be set up prior to the Scottsdale meeting if there are sufficient volunteers willing to take part in the call.

7)FSMA Activities

a)Action item for Milton Bush –circulate the latest proposal on FSMA

i)There was an extended discussion about should accredited auditors be required to turn over currently private information that would then be make public

b)Action item – To facilitate discussion and feedback, Bob Uttenweiler will send out an article on the issue and Denise Bode’s comments for member feedback

8)FDA Meeting–General Discussion and Mike Olson

a)FSMA and the FDA appear to be following diametrically opposed directions regarding accredited labs

b)The FDA seems prepared to go in a different direction from what is mandated in FSMA which would run counter to the apparent intentions of Congress

c)ACIL held a meeting with the FDA meeting last week

i)From the conversation, it appears that the tone seemed to be a little less confrontational on the part of FDA and it appears that FDA may be interested in a more cooperative approach

ii)The four largest labs have been invited to come to DC for an additional meeting to discuss anecdotal evidence

iii)There was an extended discussion about concerns of the direction of ACIL’s message and that ACIL continue to work for the whole community in these issues

d)Summary of FDA Meeting on Wednesday, September 10

i)There was a great deal of background work to lay the groundwork at the meeting

ii)One goal of FDA is to facilitate commerce

(1)There are approximately 20,000 private lab analyses per year from extrapolated data

(a)If FDA were to accept outside certification, FDA could significantly reduce its burden

(2)Outcomes – the FDA import group was involved and have agreed to review instructions and procedures

(3)FDA seems interested in working with a 501(c)(3) organizations

(4)There was an extended discussion of PLATS

(a)PLATS keeps detailed information on submissions to FDA and potentially could be misused

(5)Need to plan strategy after next week’s meeting with FDA

(6)Action item – Milton Bush to draft a follow up letter to Brian Baker to invite him to participate in Section calls

(7)Action item – When final, Bob Uttenweiler will circulate Mike Olson’s notes to ExCo for review and allow for comments to FDA

9)Update on Lobbying Replacement

a)A number of meetings have taken place and will continue

b)The selection process is now down to two law firms

10)FDA Meeting

a)FDA Public Meeting on the Foreign Supplier Verification and Third Party Accreditation Rules

i)September 19 & 20, 2013is a public meeting

ii)ACIL will be represented at the meeting

(1)Action item: ACIL will draft comments for the public record regarding this issue

11)A.O.B.

12)Next FSS Executive Committee conference call will be October 16, 2013 if needed

13)There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:04 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Uttenweiler

ACIL SEO