At a PACK EXPO press dinner in mid-March, PMMI hosted a program that included a look at FSMA from the perspective of equipment needs.

FSMA expert Jeff Barach, Ph.D., a consultant to PMMI, presented an overview of the legislation’s impact on machinery. He stressed the worldwide impact of the legislation, and how it can be a time of opportunity for processing and packaging equipment suppliers — even before final rules are in place.

The best equipment will facilitate compliance, he said, and recommended creating a seamless technical community — a partnership in which machinery suppliers and food manufacturers join forces to take new products from concept to store shelves with FSMA areas of engagement top-of-mind.

Our customers are going to be looking for a lot of support on this issue, and it’s something we all need to understand — no matter our roles or positions. That’s why PMMI is integrating FSMA into a number of our events in the coming months in the coming weeks:

April 15–17: The 2012 Executive Leadership Conference, San Antonio

David K. Acheson, MD, presents on the latest FSMA progress and packaging and processing suppliers’ role in implementing the safety measures required by the legislation. Dr. Acheson served the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) from 2002–2007, and currently is a member of Leavitt Partners’ Global Food Solutions Team.

May 2: FSMA 101, presented by the Alliance for Innovation & Operational Excellence (AIOE), PMMI and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Chicago

Dr. Barach facilitates a day-long discussion of what FSMA is, and what our customers expect us to do about it.

May 15–16: MarketTrends Roundtable, Chicago

Dr. Barach presents “Technologies, Trends and Regulations to Watch.”

The press reacted to the food safety presentations at our Editor’s Event with enthusiasm and many questions. It’s a topic their readers (our customers) are honing in on, one with many layers and complexities.

I hope to see you at one or more of the events mentioned above — starting at the ELC. Properly educated, we can enjoy new business opportunities from this changed food safety environment— helping our customers and keeping the global food supply safe all the while.