US and UK meat industry bodies sign memorandum of understanding
The agreement is designed to “benefit members of each organization and to support and promote mutually beneficial regulations, standards and policies to enhance bilateral trade in meat and poultry products”.
The memorandum was signed by Meat Institute chairman and president and CEO of Sigma Warren Panico and CEO of the BMPA Nick Allen on 28 January 2020, and runs from 1 February until 31 January 2021.
The agreement allows both organisations to extend invitations and member discount rates to the other's conferences, workshops and other educational meetings. It was made due to their members encountering and having to address many common regulatory, scientific, trade, legislative and public affairs issues and challenges.
Both organisations will share with the other, and disseminate to their members, information that is not subject to a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement with their respective governments concerning regulatory, scientific, legislative and international developments that affect the other organisation's members. Each organisation also will discuss periodically, and as needed, other mechanisms that would mutually benefit each organisation's members.
“Members of the Meat Institute and the British Meat Processors Association share many common goals, especially regarding food safety, sustainability, nutrition and worker safety,” said Meat Institute senior vice president for international affairs Bill Westman. “As our governments begin trade talks, it is important to members in both organisations to formalise an already beneficial relationship. We look forward to working with the Administration and our British counterparts to improve access to significant trade opportunities between our nations.”
Allen added: "We look forward to a constructive working relationship with our American counterparts and can see it bringing multiple benefits to our members.
"BMPA has, for many years, played a key role in acting as a conduit between the British meat industry and Government, regulatory bodies and other industry groups both in the UK, Europe and worldwide.
"As we embark on new trade negotiations, we see relationships with organisations like NAMI in the US, the Meat Industry Association in New Zealand and UECBV and Clitravi in Europe as pivotal. Through co-operation and shared experience we are able to safeguard the interests of our members and the consumers they serve, as well as maintaining and improving the hard-won reputation of the British meat industry."
