A MICHIGAN BOOST TO FOOD SAFETY IN UZBEKISTAN

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000255 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AMEMBASSY ANKARA FOR AG COUNSELOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON SENV UZ SUBJECT: A MICHIGAN BOOST TO FOOD SAFETY IN UZBEKISTAN ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. On February 12-26 the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Cochran Program sponsored a food safety training tour in the U.S. for Uzbek, Tajik, and Armenian specialists. The program took place primarily at Michigan State University and included both workshops and site visits. Participants received documents and related materials that will aid them in improving food safety issues in their home countries. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) The USDA's Cochran Program sponsored a Food Safety program for Uzbek specialists, which was held in the U.S. on February 12-26, 2009. Four Uzbek specialists representing government agencies, research institutes, and private sector manufacturing companies participated. In the U.S. the Uzbek delegation was joined by other participants from Armenia and Tajikistan. ¶3. (U) Michigan State University (MSU) organized the program for the Cochran visitors. MSU is famous for its agricultural science and close collaboration with USDA and other U.S. Government agencies responsible for food safety issues. MSU's International Agricultural Programs Institute organized lectures and hands-on workshops to familiarize the participants with food safety issues in the U.S. and how programs addressing these issues are implemented by various U.S. agencies such as USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),and state and local agencies. ¶4. (U) Participants had a chance to visit food manufacturing plants that included a turkey slaughtering plant, a sausage plant, a milk processing plant, a dairy farm, and ingredients supplier facilities. The site visits -- especially meetings with quality and food safety managers -- were of great interest to all participants. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system used in the U.S. to ensure food safety was an instrumental part of the program. ¶5. (U) Participants also had a chance to visit FDA facilities and laboratories, where most manufactured and imported food products are tested. At the end of the program, all participants received the necessary regulatory documents that can be used in their home countries as a model to ensure food safety. All participants received certificates for successful participation in this short training course from USDA's Cochran Program and from MSU. BUTCHER To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:d07f86f5-0f99- 46b8-a10a-6f31f282af92