ARLINGTON, VA. — In an effort to highlight the important role the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plays in animal food product plant inspections and trade coordination, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is collaborating with the Pet Food Institute (PFI) and the North American Renderers Association (NARA) to host an educational program in conjunction with the 2025 International Processing & Production Expo (IPPE). “APHIS and Industry: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Importing/Exporting Animal Products” will be held Jan. 29 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
“This program promises to be an excellent learning opportunity for anyone who is importing into the United States, or preparing to export rendered products, animal-based feed or pet food,” said Mallory Gaines, AFIA’s director of market access and multilateral affairs. “Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with APHIS staff and build stronger relationships with key regulatory contacts.”
APHIS’s responsibilities include overseeing animal food product facility inspections, processing import permits and export health certificates and negotiating market access with global trading partners.
The one-day program will provide attendees with insights into APHIS’s operations and allow for networking opportunities with APHIS headquarters negotiators and field office staff. In addition to highlighting all aspects — “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” — of APHIS inspections, discussions will also be geared toward helping the industry better prepare for inspections, streamline paperwork processes and improve collaboration with APHIS to avoid trade disruptions.
The educational program will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 29. An early bird rate of $280 is available until Jan. 10. AFIA, PFI and NARA members should contact their association representatives for a member rate.
Learn more and register for the APHIS event here.
Read more about pet food and treat industry events.
