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FSMA Webinar on Recordkeeping Available On-line
If you missed the Webinar on how to comply with new FSMA rules on recordkeeping, watch it on-line at your convenience. Access to view the recorded session, including questions and answers is available for purchase.

2013 Annual Meeting and Exhibits -
Presentations for the 2013 Annual Meeting are now available to members. Non-members who attended the meeting and would like copies of the presentations, please contact the ASTA office at 202-331-2460 or at info@astaspice.org.

The 2013 Susan L. Scholarship winners were announced at the Annual Meeting. Click here to see the winners.

ASTA White Paper on Process Validation - Now available
One of the five key recommendations in ASTA's Clean, Safe Spices Guidance is to use validated microbial reduction techniques. ASTA's new white paper provides an overview of essential elements for companies to consider in developing programs to validate the microbial reduction processes they use.

Did you know that ASTA has a Career Center?
The ASTA Career Center is intended to provide ASTA member companies with the opportunity to connect with qualified professionals seeking employment. This service is free for ASTA members.

Government Relations

ASTA Board Opposes Additional FSMA User Fees
The ASTA Board of Directors has agreed to oppose user fees proposed by FDA to fund FSMA implementation. ASTA staff met with FDA several months ago as the agency explored options for user fees and voiced opposition at that time. The position taken by the ASTA Board of Directors is consistent with other organizations in advocating that Congress should provide adequate funding to implement FSMA and not rely on added fees for industry. ASTA will continue to provide updates on FSMA as new information becomes available.

FSMA Webinar Series
ASTA continues a series of Webinars designed to help spice companies, both in the U.S. and overseas, understand how to comply with the new food safety law. Sessions include:

a broad overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act including general recommendations on steps companies should begin taking while the rules are under development;
important tips on how to prepare for an FDA inspection and information detailing company’s rights;
a walkthrough of the preventive controls rule that has been proposed by FDA including what you should be doing today to begin to comply with this new way of thinking;
a deeper dive on recordkeeping requirements and tips on what companies can be doing now to prepare for the changes that are coming.

As new programs become available, we will post that information. To purchase access to any of the recordings now available in the series, click here.

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Upcoming Events

Save the Date
2013 Regulatory Legislative Workshop
Crystal City, VA
, October 16, 2013

Book your hotel room today

Save The Date
2014 Annual Meeting
and Exhibits
St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA
, April 27 - 30

Save The Date
2015 Annual Meeting
and Exhibits
Charleston Place Hotel
Charleston, SC
, April 12 - 15

ASTA Resources

ASTA's Guidance Document
ASTA produced this guidance document to assist the spice industry in developing programs that minimize risk for contamination during growing, harvesting, drying, transport, processing, and post-processing storage, helping industry firms to provide clean, safe spices to their industrial, food service and consumer customers.

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