Food Sciences Section (FSS) Section Executive Committee Phone Conference

Food Sciences Section (FSS) Section Executive Committee Phone Conference

January 20, 2010 Meeting Minutes

Participants: Tom Zierenberg – Chair (Microbac);David Eisenberg (Anresco); Lars Reiman (Eurofins Scientific); Marty Mitchell (Certified Laboratories);); [Guest]) Josh Moony (Ballard & Spahr); Milt Bush (The M Companies)& Tony Anderson (Section Executive Officer)

1.0Call to order:

The Chaircalled the conference call to order at 3:02 pm.

2.0Introductions:

Members introduced themselves.

3.0Anti Trust Statement:

Mr. Anderson reminded all those present of everyone’s adherence to the ACIL anti-trust statement.

4.0Review and Approval of the November 18, & December 16, 2009 Minutes:

Both sets of Minutes were unanimously approved.

5.0The Value of Independent Testing

Mr. Bush explained that the Government affairs committee had been discussing for some time how to educate congress and regulators on the value of independent testing. They discussed developing specific messages in different industry sectors. The focus is to be on confidence, accreditation and partnership. A program has been put together to make some short You-Tube type videos which will be available to educate government and congressional people. They will also be a new web site developed where these videos will be available for viewing and use by members. Videotaping will be taking place at the winter meeting where key ACIL members will be interviewed in the four sections to capture what customers expect from laboratories and what independent testing means to them. Key issues will come out from these interviews, which will help get the word out to regulators. This is a completely fresh approach to anything that has been done before. Prior to the winter meeting talking points, i.e “what does independent testing mean to you,” will be sent to members to prompt them to speak and help prepare them for the interviews.

6.0Winter Meeting Agenda:

Mr. Zierenbergstated that he had managed to get Carl Schiccatano and George Salem of the FDA to agree to attend the winter meeting and participate in a panel session. Mr. Bush said he was working with John Bode to get some hill staffers to participate with the FDA people for a session on food safety, moderated by Mr. Bode. Mr. Bush asked whether Mr. Bode should moderate or be part of the panel and someone else moderate. Mr. Reiman pointed out that it would be better for Mr. Bode to moderate giving members more freedom to ask the right questions. Mr. Mitchell raised concern about mixing regulators with hill staffers on the same panel. After some discussion, it was decided to make the panel session on food safety be with FDA personnel only with Mr. Bode as moderator and try to arrange meetings on the Hill with house and senate staffersfor the following day.

Action: Mr. Zierenberg to check with the FDA people that they are o.k. with having the full 90 minute session on food safety on their own.

Action: Mr. Bush to arrange through Mr. Bode meetings on the Hill for the following day, Tuesday 23, 2010

7.0Discussion of Congressional Activities:

Nothing additional to that discussed in 6.0 above.

8.0Discussion of FDA issues:

8.1Outreach:

Mr. Mitchell said he would take responsibility for putting together material from his earlier comments and documents arising out of last year’s conversations with the FDA and would build on those for use as an agenda at the winter meeting panel session.

Action: Mr. Mitchell to prepare agenda for FDA panel session and send to Mr. Anderson for distribution to the section.

8.2Other:

No other issues reported

9.0Fundraising Status Report and Expenses at Year-End:

Mr. Reiman reported that the account was in the black at the end of the year and he was unaware of any open invoices. He had received a new report from Mr. Bright following the action item from the last meeting but had not yet been able to review.

10.0List of top 10 membership prospects:

Mr. Zierenberg stated he had been in touch with Ralston Purina but they had declined becoming members as they did not consider themselves as an independent laboratory and much of their work was regulatory. However, it was decided to invite Ron Flowers of Silliker to the winter meeting.

Action: Mr. Mitchell to invite Russ Flowers of Silliker to the winter meeting.

11.0Nomination of section representative to participateon a task force regarding dues:

Mr. Zierenberg stated that he had been in contact with Dave Kliber regarding representing the FSS on the dues task force and was pleased to announce he had accepted.

Action:Mr. Anderson to inform Mr. Bush and ask Mr. Bush to drop Mr. Kliber a note acknowledging his acceptance.

12.0A.O.B.

Funding Support from A2LA, and response to Peter Unger’s letter.

Action: Mr. Bush to draft a letter to Peter Unger addressing his concerns and asking him to contribute to the advocacy effort with regard to food safety.

Secretary’s note: Mr. Anderson spoke with Mr. Bush after the conference call about this open action item. Mr. Bush informed him that he considered any response at this time would be unproductive.

13.0Next Conference Call:March 17, 2010; 3:00p.m. EST.

14.0Adjournment:Meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m.EST.

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