PFMA’s Food Protection and Loss Prevention Committees recently met at the Association’s headquarters to hear presentations by state agencies and partner organizations to update members on a variety of related topics.
The Food Protection Committee, chaired by Steve Oswald, Wakerfern, held its meeting on April 19. Members heard from Judy Martin, assistant bureau director, and Brenda Shaeffer, Fruit and Vegetable division supervisor, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), on the USDA’s Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices (GAP/GHP) and the Food Safety Modernization Act. The programs protect consumers by implementing procedures that prevent on-farm contamination of fruits and vegetables.To assist producers with compliance, and reassure retailers their suppliers are using current agricultural best practices, the PDA offers a reimbursement program to producers and processors who successfully complete a USDA GAP/GHP audit.
The Emergency and Safety Coordinator for the PDA, Derek Ruhl, spoke briefly about the Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidance booklet, which was developed in partnership with PFMA in 2010. The guidance is specific to the food industry, and provides information and resources on prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. For more information, or a copy of the guidance, please feel free to contact Meagan Thorpe, PFMA association services manager. Mr. Ruhl presented an overview of the Rapid Response Team (RRT), which PFMA is a member of, and explained how the RRT is activated and utilized in the event of a food or feed emergency. A recent intentional food contamination event in another state was considered and discussed in relation to how the PDA RRT would respond to a similar event.
The Committee also heard from Jon Taets, director of Government Relations for NACS, on menu-labeling regulations that were to go into effect in May, and pending legislation that would have given retailers and restaurants more flexibility in implementing the regulations. Since that time, however, the FDA released a new rule postponing compliance until May 2018, to hear comments and reevaluate the regulations.
The Loss Prevention Committee met on April 28, and discussed the possibility of creating a new position in the state Attorney General’s (AG) office dedicated specifically to organized retail crime. Organized crime costs retailers more than $30 billion in 2015, and the issue has been growing as criminals perfect and evolve strategies for high value thefts. Julie Miro-Wenger, Delaware Food Industry Council, spoke with the committee about her work getting similar legislation passed in that state, and the opposition she faced in doing so. The biggest hurdle to setting up a dedicated organized retail crime prosecutor in the AG’s office is the cost, which Miro-Wenger said was resolved through an additional fee incorporated into the cost of Delaware’s annual business registration. The Committee agreed to look further into the feasibility of legislation creating a dedicated organized retail crime prosecutor in the AG’s office in Pennsylvania, and discuss more in depth at a time when the Attorney General is available.
Before concluding the meeting, the Committee also discussed new safety program initiatives in members’ stores and the positive impact those have had on reducing employee and customer accidents and injuries.
The Food Protection Committee, chaired by Steve Oswald, Wakerfern, held its meeting on April 19. Members heard from Judy Martin, assistant bureau director, and Brenda Shaeffer, Fruit and Vegetable division supervisor, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), on the USDA’s Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices (GAP/GHP) and the Food Safety Modernization Act. The programs protect consumers by implementing procedures that prevent on-farm contamination of fruits and vegetables.To assist producers with compliance, and reassure retailers their suppliers are using current agricultural best practices, the PDA offers a reimbursement program to producers and processors who successfully complete a USDA GAP/GHP audit.
The Emergency and Safety Coordinator for the PDA, Derek Ruhl, spoke briefly about the Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidance booklet, which was developed in partnership with PFMA in 2010. The guidance is specific to the food industry, and provides information and resources on prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. For more information, or a copy of the guidance, please feel free to contact Meagan Thorpe, PFMA association services manager. Mr. Ruhl presented an overview of the Rapid Response Team (RRT), which PFMA is a member of, and explained how the RRT is activated and utilized in the event of a food or feed emergency. A recent intentional food contamination event in another state was considered and discussed in relation to how the PDA RRT would respond to a similar event.
The Committee also heard from Jon Taets, director of Government Relations for NACS, on menu-labeling regulations that were to go into effect in May, and pending legislation that would have given retailers and restaurants more flexibility in implementing the regulations. Since that time, however, the FDA released a new rule postponing compliance until May 2018, to hear comments and reevaluate the regulations.
The Loss Prevention Committee met on April 28, and discussed the possibility of creating a new position in the state Attorney General’s (AG) office dedicated specifically to organized retail crime. Organized crime costs retailers more than $30 billion in 2015, and the issue has been growing as criminals perfect and evolve strategies for high value thefts. Julie Miro-Wenger, Delaware Food Industry Council, spoke with the committee about her work getting similar legislation passed in that state, and the opposition she faced in doing so. The biggest hurdle to setting up a dedicated organized retail crime prosecutor in the AG’s office is the cost, which Miro-Wenger said was resolved through an additional fee incorporated into the cost of Delaware’s annual business registration. The Committee agreed to look further into the feasibility of legislation creating a dedicated organized retail crime prosecutor in the AG’s office in Pennsylvania, and discuss more in depth at a time when the Attorney General is available.
Before concluding the meeting, the Committee also discussed new safety program initiatives in members’ stores and the positive impact those have had on reducing employee and customer accidents and injuries.
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