An important three-day training session for the export of meat and pork products to the USA took place in Rimini starting from May 21st. The training moment, organized by the Ministry of Health and the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, saw the participation of over 70 official veterinarians from all over Italy and numerous representatives of exporting companies in the United States. The export of agri-food products to third countries, and in particular to the USA, represents one of the most important issues on which the activity of the Ministry of Health and in particular of the General Directorate for hygiene, food safety and nutrition is concentrated , in close collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Washington which was also present at the event with the remote interventions of the Agri-food Attaché. The shared objective is to promote exports by guaranteeing access to markets through compliance with bilateral agreements signed with foreign authorities regarding health requirements.
The main purpose of the course was to ensure adequate harmonization of the actions implemented at a regional and local level for exports to the USA, to verify the recommendations arising during the latest audits that the American authorities carried out in our country and on the Italian factories .
The event acquires particular relevance at a time when, following the expansion of the Italian areas subject to restrictions due to African swine fever, the first restrictions on the importation of short-matured cured meats into the United States begin. It is essential, in fact, to remember and reiterate the importance that, together with this animal health issue, we continue to pay the utmost attention to compliance with all the conditions necessary to guarantee food safety.
The course just concluded constitutes the first step of a training path for which an innovative approach has been defined, contemplating, for the first time, the direct involvement of company operators together with the official veterinarians of the local authorities.
For the next steps, the Ministry plans to continue cascade training at a local level, using the same organizational schemes and teaching materials as the course in question, in order to involve the largest possible number of participants relating to official control and the production sector. .
The trade associations representing companies in the sector (ASSICA, ASSOCARNI, UNAITALIA, UNICEB, UNIONFOOD) and the Consortia for the protection of Parma Ham and San Daniele Ham provided logistical support to the event which was considered extremely profitable and effective: being able to share procedures and approaches aimed at fully satisfying the requirements of American legislation, carrying out exercises and practical tests in close contact with the veterinary services has allowed the participating companies to perfect their method of managing the conditions for exporting to the USA.
The Associations have already expressed their willingness to organize the next courses in order to ensure the participation of all interested associated companies, both already authorized to export to the USA and active on the market and intending to approach it for the first time.
