CONFERENCE „FOOD AND PRODUCTS SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE FOR EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA“

Starting May 27, 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun implementing the FDA’s Food Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), as a central feature of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The FSVP is a flexible, risk-based program to verify foreign suppliers and the safety of the food they produce.
The conference was held under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Porodzanov. It was organized by Public Policy Institute and SILO Global Ltd. PPIF organizes trainings in all fields related or subordinate to the policies implemented by the authorities of the European Union, international organizations, government bodies and local authorities. The aim is to support the implementation of these policies, providing expert knowledge of all professional and social groups, citizens and administrators who are affected by the implementation of a specific public policy.
The conference was attended by:

• producers, processing facilities and traders of food and food products, including raw materials for them and services that may affect the safety of food;
• producers processing facilities and traders of cosmetic products, including raw materials for them and services that may affect the safety of cosmetic products;
• producers of medical devices and consumables.

SPEAKERS

Mr. Domenic J. Veneziano
FDA Regulatory and Strategic Consultant
Mr. Veneziano provides advice on the importation of all Food and Drug Administration-regulated commodities and the resolution of problems that may occur. He also evaluates medical device and food facilities to determine compliance with good manufacturing practice regulations and the Food Safety Modernization Act, and he assists clients in correcting any deviations found during FDA inspections or third-party audits.

Mrs. Jennifer R. Diaz, Esq.
Board Certified International Attorney – Customs and International Trade practice
Board Certified International Attorney considered an “expert” in international law by the Florida Bar. Experience with resolving regulatory issues involving Federal agencies including the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau (TTB) as well as other Federal agencies.

Mrs. Sophie Soudai
Founding Partner in AGL, LLC / Food Chain Consultants, LLC. / All Food Traders, LLC
Sophie Soudai is a seasoned global logistics professional with 40+ years of experience handling complex shipments for some of the largest companies in the world. Sophie has been handling cold supply chain chilled and frozen shipments globally, navigating each countries laws and regulations pertaining to food products and border crossings.
With Sophie’s extensive experience in food safety and food security, she has navigated many shipments through specific and changing global compliances. She is a perfect partner for anyone who is new or a veteran in the US market.

WHY DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FSMA AND WHAT IS FSVP:

FSVP will require:

• Identification of the “FSVP importer of record” for food products imported into the U.S.;
• The Importer of Record is responsible to verify that that their foreign suppliers are using safe processes and procedures and that the food is not adulterated or misbranded;
• The adequate compliance of food products, cosmetics and medical devices is not only mandatory, but it creates reliability and brings market competitiveness for the US market for all the manufacturers, that do fulfill the requirements;
• There is no Importer of record in the USA, willing to do business with exporters, if they are not FDA/FSVP compliant!

Everyone has a role in the “food safety continuum”. The job of the FDA is to regulate food safety;
it is the responsibility of each company to ensure the safety of their food products with the relevant documents of record.

AGENDA

09.30 – 10.00              Registration of attendants starts
10.00 – 10.30              Official opening and greeting by the Organizers & Partners

Mr. Simeon S. Stoilov – SILO Global
Mrs. Lozana Vasileva – Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forests
Mr. Zdravko Popov – President of Public Policy Institute

10.30 – Work Panel
Moderator: Mr. Simeon S. Stoilov – SILO Global
10.30 – 10.45              Bulgarian State Agency for Food Safety
Lubomir Kulinski
10.45 – 11.15              General (routine) practice and milestones for import in the United States (video)
Mr. Ivo Konstantinov
11.15 – 11.30              FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) introduction & overview
Mr. Domenic J. Veneziano
11.30 – 12.00              U.S. Customs Requirements for Importing Merchandise into the U.S.
Mrs. Jennifer R. Diaz, Esq.
12.00 – 12.30              FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) overview
Mr. Domenic J. Veneziano
12.30 – 13.00             Food and Product Safety in the USA and Supply Chain
Mrs. Sophie Soudai
13.00 – 13.45              Lunch Break
13.45 – Work Panel
Moderator: Lubomir Todorov – Public Policy Institute
13.45 – 14.30              FDA Requirements for Importing Food into the U.S (procedures, top tips and timing).
Mrs. Jennifer R. Diaz, Esq
14.30 – 15.00              Q&A
15.00 – 15.15              Supply Chain opportunities via Port of Miami
15.15 – 16.00              FDA Requirements for Importing Cosmetics into the U.S. (procedures, top tips and timing)
Mrs. Jennifer R. Diaz, Esq
16.00 – 16.30              Q&A
17.00 – 18.00             Networking Reception

Location:

Musala Hall / Vihren Hall
Inter Expo Center
147 Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd.
Sofia 1784,
Bulgaria