Meat+Poultry - December 2021 - IPPE-16

Health and safety
Staying safe at IPPE
After the COVID-19 pandemic
forced the International Production
& Processing Expo (IPPE) to go
virtual in 2021, the show is returning
to Atlanta in person in January
2022. But with in-person events
come health and safety measures
that show organizers are encouraging
all participants to follow.
" The health and safety of everyone
who attends IPPE continues
to remain a top priority, " show organizers
said. " IPPE is monitoring
the changing protocols based on
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention guidelines and will
follow state and local government
requirements regarding the coronavirus
(COVID-19). "
Show organizers will continue to
monitor the changing conditions
with regard to COVID-19 and will
follow Georgia state guidelines.
" We will coordinate with our facility
partners at the Georgia World
Congress Center (GWCC), hotels
in our official block, vendors, transportation
and service providers, "
organizers said. " We will continue
to adjust the onsite operations as
new guidance comes out and conditions
inevitably change. "
The GWCC was the first convention
center in the United States to
achieve GBAC STAR accreditation
for cleaning, disinfection and
infectious disease prevention. To
achieve GBAC STAR accreditation,
the GWCC had to demonstrate
compliance with the program's
20 elements which include:
* Establishing and maintaining
a disinfection, cleaning and
infectious disease prevention
program to minimize risks associated
with infectious agents
like the novel coronavirus
(SARS-CoV-2).
* The proper cleaning protocols,
disinfection techniques, and
work practices in place to combat
biohazards and infectious
disease.
* Highly informed cleaning professionals
who are trained for
outbreak and infectious disease
preparation and response.
IPPE is committed to minimizing
risk and will be working with exhibitors,
partners, vendors and
attendees to follow precautions
to ensure safe business conduct.
To aid in this effort, key IPPE
staff also achieved GBAC STAR
accreditation.
" IPPE staff will be planning the
show floors, the exhibit halls and
conference classrooms to produce
a safe event, " organizers said.
The continued outbreaks of African
swine fever (ASF) in various countries
around the world are also a
concern for the meat and poultry
industry and all exhibitors and attendees
of IPPE.
" Higher levels of biosecurity will
be in place during IPPE to prevent
the introduction or spread of this
virus and potentially other harmful
diseases into our industries, "
organizers said. " We are asking
all international travelers to remain
free from contact with pigs for a
minimum of five days before visiting
the IPPE in January. "
Because research has shown that
the ASF virus can survive in some
feed ingredients if contaminated,
IPPE will prohibit the distribution
of any bulk or packaged samples
of feed ingredients or additives at
the show.
16 MEAT+POULTRY / IPPE PROCESSOR'S HANDBOOK
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Meat+Poultry - December 2021

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