February 1, 2019
The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
MWFPA, Others Urge Administration To Lift Metals Tariffs
Organizations in the manufacturing and agriculture industries, including the Midwest Food Products Association, have called on the US Department of Commerce and Office of US Trade to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and remove all retaliatory tariffs on trade among those involved. 

In a letter , addressed to Secretary Wilbur Ross and Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, the organizations
state:

“For many farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, the damage from the reciprocal trade actions in the steel dispute far outweighs any benefit that may accrue to them from the USMCA. The continued application of metal tariffs means ongoing economic hardship for US companies that depend on imported steel and aluminum, but that are not exempted from these tariffs.

Producers of agricultural and manufactured products that are highly dependent on the Canadian and Mexican markets are also suffering serious financial losses.”

The U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on steel last June, along with a 10% tariff on aluminum imports, including imports from Canada and Mexico. Both countries retaliated.
The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Alliant Energy
MWFPA, Trade Groups Press Congress To Rein In Tariff Powers
Business groups, including MWFPA, support a group of bipartisan legislators who have introduced legislation that would limit the President's ability to institute tariffs on national security grounds without congressional approval.

The legislation, dubbed The Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act , was introduced Wednesday by Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Mark Warner, D-Va. The legislation has five additional GOP co-sponsors, three Democratic ones, and the backing of Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis.; Ron Kind, D-Wis.; Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif.; and Darin LaHood, R-Ill., are sponsoring the House version.

Among the 32 business and trade associations supporting the measure are the American Beverage Association, the Can Manufacturers Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Retail Association and the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers.

Read the letter to Congress here .
Senators Urge FDA To Update CBD Regulations
Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting an update to federal regulations on cannabidiol (CBD) to “give U.S. producers more flexibility in the production, consumption, and sale of hemp products.”

Wyden and Merkley urge FDA to answer a series of clarifying questions, including “What lawful pathways are currently available for those who seek approval to introduce Cannabis sativa L. and its derivatives as a food, beverages or dietary supplement, including into interstate commerce?” and “Are there circumstances in which Cannabis sativa L. and its derivatives may be permitted as a food, beverages or dietary supplement by the agency?”

Read more .
FDA
2019 Environmental, Health, & Safety Outlook For Manufacturers
The predictions in this series covers emerging contaminants, targeted OSHA inspections, redefining waters of the United States and continued Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform.

GM Food Foes Know Less Than They Think
According to a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, people who hold the most extreme views opposing genetically modified (GM) foods think they know most about GM food science but may actually know the least.

The researchers found that the more strongly people report being opposed to GM foods, the more knowledgeable they think they are on the topic, but the lower they score on an actual knowledge test.

Read the study abstract here .
MN Labor Committee Advances Family-Medical Leave Bill
The MN House Labor Committee approved a wide-ranging family and medical leave bill on a party-line vote, 10-5. It was then referred to the House Commerce Committee.

Sponsored by Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan), HF5 creates an expansive state-wide mandate on employers and employees - a new state insurance program financed through a joint employer/employee payroll tax - in order to establish a partial wage replacement benefit for the purposes of medical AND family leave.

MWFPA along with the MN Chamber of Commerce opposes the measure.
IL Senate Looking Toward $15 Minimum Wage
Legislation to increase the IL minimum wage, SB1 , introduced by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, has been assigned to the IL State Senate Floor. This shell bill was assigned directly to Third Reading and bypassed the committee process. No substantive language to implement the minimum wage has been filed to the legislation at this time.

Earlier this week the IL Senate Labor Committee held a hearing on raising the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 per hour over an undefined period of years.

Lightford said she plans to introduce bill language as early as next week to advance Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s first major legislative agenda item.
Article: Learn How To Minimize And Eliminate Physical Foreign Materials In Your Product By Hays Companies
Foreign material contaminants such as: glass, plastics, ceramics, wood, rubber, bone, rock, hair, paper, etc. can be a significant food safety hazard if it enters food products. These materials can cause injury to humans or animals and could lead to recalls of food and feed products.

What does this mean to food and feed manufacturers? It is vitally important to ensure physical foreign materials are evaluated/addressed in incoming ingredients, in the transportation systems and within the manufacturing of those products. 

Read this article from MWFPA member Hays Companies examining the specifics of some key programs that can help to minimize, and/or eliminate, physical foreign materials in your operations’ produced food or feed. 
Transportation, Food Safety Seen As Top Issues On Regulatory Front
Food Business News interviewed representatives from key food industry groups and who provided their views on what's ahead in the food industry regulatory front for 2019.

Read more here.
MWFPA Member RSM Offers Free Blockchain Webcast
Blockchain has become a major buzzword in the food and beverage industry. According to a recent RSM survey, 95 percent of food and beverage chief financial officers say blockchain is important, but why?

Blockchain isn’t just about compliance, but can benefit all actors along the food value chain in various ways. Consumers want to know exactly where their food comes from beyond what the label says—is the product actually organic, farm raised or all-natural?

Join MWFPA associate member RSM for its free webcast to learn:

  • How blockchain affects and improves food safety and traceability
  • How blockchain reduces fraud
  • The ways that blockchain can provide the exact source of contamination if a food safety issue occurs

Date and time
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019
2 p.m. EST | 1 p.m. CST
60 minutes

Fee
Complimentary

More information
Email or call + 1 800 274 3978
2019 Leadership Series Seminar: Resolve Employee Conflict
February 14th
REGISTER TODAY
As a leader, the ability to navigate through conflict and communicate to resolve conflict is a core competency. It produces many benefits, including increased productivity, improved cohesion and teamwork, and creative problem solving.

This course includes:
  1. Pre-knowledge assessment
  2. Performance contracting
  3. eLearning
  4. Live workshop
  5. Post-knowledge assessment
  6. Reinforcement with access to coaching

$450/per person (includes continental breakfast and lunch)

This seminar is presented by Russell Associates.

Thanks to Our Seminar Sponsors
Mark Your Calendar: MWFPA Events You Won't Want To Miss
February 5, 2019: AMO Meeting .

February 7, 2019:  WI Dept. of Natural Resources/Food Industry Meeting, NOAH'S Event Center, 5020 American Family Drive, Madison, WI.
 
February 14, 2019:  Resolve Employee Conflict Seminar . MWFPA Conference Room, lower level, 4600 American Pkwy., Madison, WI.
 
February 20, 2019:  MWFPA Board of Directors Meeting.   
 
May 29-30, 2019:  MWFPA Spring Summit & Scramble . Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI. 
 
December 3 - 5, 2019:  MWFPA 115th Annual Convention and 92nd Processing Crops Conference . Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
OTHER EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS

February 21, 2019: 2019 Manufacturing Matters! conference . Hyatt Regency, 333 West Kilbourn Ave.
Milwaukee, WI. Join over 500 manufacturing professionals for Wisconsin's premier manufacturing conference to learn, network, and celebrate manufacturing in our state.More information and links to sign up for the pre-conference events and the MM19! can be found at: ManufacturingMatters.org < http://www.manufacturingmatters.org/ >

March 6, 2019: AgTech Innovation Summit .   University of Illinois Research Park
Champaign, Illinois. E xplore how tech is addressing significant changes facing the agricultural industry including prevalent innovations in animal sciences with perspectives from ADM, Elanco, TellTail and AGCO. Register here .
Brian Elliott | Midwest Food Products Association | Ph: (608) 255-9946 | Fax: (608) 255-9838
Web: www.mwfpa.org