SL Food Processors Association, Vega Feg conducts 'Awareness training programme on FSMA'

The Sri Lanka Food Processors Association in partnership with the Vega Feg project in Colombo and Spice Council with the collaboration of Ministry of Industry and Commerce conducted an "Awareness And Training Programme on Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)" of USA on June 11, at the auditorium of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The Training which is very comprehensive would include workshops with factory visits to provide Sri Lankan manufacturers and exporters of food products and the supply chain to USA, with a better understanding of the above FSMA rules and regulations. Participation at the awareness program was more than expected and the Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce were the Chief Guest.

Hamilton Diaz, President, Sri Lanka Food Processors Association welcomed the distinguished invitees and participants. Sarada De Silva-Chairman Spice Council, made the thank you note. Among others who spoke were Christopher Corkey, Economic and Commercial Attaché at the US Embassy and Sanjaya Pathirage, Vice President/Chairman, Training Programme Committee of SLFPA.

Among many other distinguished persons in attendance were Anura Siriwardana, Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Asitha Senevirathne, Additional Secretary, Karunaratne, Director , Paul Richardson, Director of the Office of Economic Growth at USAID, Jamaldeen, Chief of Party, VEGA, M.Z.M. Farhad, Agribusiness Advisor US AID/VEGA-FEG and Mervin Gonawela, Secretary, Sri Lanka Food Processors Association. The facilitator for this Training Programme Dr. Barbara Rasco, BSE,Phd, Professor, School of Food Science, Washington State University USA is an Internationally recognized attorney and expert in the areas of domestic and international food law and food production with over 20 years experience advising domestic and international clients.

She is a proven leader and current manager of multidisciplinary programs with large program budgets and diverse staff.

Dr. Barbara Rasco has Substantial private sector and international experience, both legal and technical, in food and natural resource based businesses including: production, import, market development and export of high value food products.

And, significant appointments to international advisory boards and national expert panels on food policy and international trade including FDA Advisory Boards on Food Safety Modernization Act implementation. Dr. Barbara Rasco has 170+ publications to her credit. The Sri Lanka Food Processors Association is the foremost representative body for the food processing sector in the country and is responsible to develop a comparatively advantageous environment for the Food Processing Industry. The Association also endeavors to benchmark best practices and to motivate the local industry to achieve Global Standards.

In the light of the remarkable 14 percent annual growth in the Sri Lanka Food Industry, the SLFPA is continuously aiming to provide the membership the opportunities to develop their business and gain profits through active participation in national level activity.