Annual Report 2019

2019 Annual Report 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. Promoting Food Safety Through Hygienic Design It is the mission of 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. to enhance product safety for consumers of food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products through the development and use of 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices. 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. Board of Directors OFFICERS Coming of Age Lyle Clem, Chair Electrol Specialties Co. 3-A SSI achieved a major milestone this year, completing 15 years of building new and expanded industry services. Dan Meyer, Vice Chair American Dairy Products Institute The scope of 3-A SSI’s work has evolved with the times and many achievements point to major progress on some John Allan, Treasurer larger mission objectives envisioned by the founders. International Dairy Foods Association Chris Hylkema, Secretary The 3-A Symbol authorization program changed substan- New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets tially in 2003 with the requirement for a Third Party Veri- fication (TPV) inspection report. Over 15 years of experi- DIRECTORS ence with the TPV requirement, we see steady growth in Kenneth Anderson Dennis Glick the 3-A Symbol authorization program among fabricators Harold Wainess & USDA/ AMS Dairy from all locations, driven by the goal to enhance regula- Programs, Dairy Grading Associates tory acceptance. The independent inspection program Branch Tom Berry relies on evaluations by independent Certified Confor- Associated Milk David Kedzierski mance Evaluators. Among the 16 CCEs, the average Producers, Inc. Agri-Mark, Inc./Cabot length of industry experience is nearly 33 years. John Buchanan Creamery The Kroger Co. Greg Marconnet From the first standards for valves and fittings of decades Paul Dix Mead & Hunt ago, 3-A SSI today maintains a large inventory of mod- Chair, 3-A Steering Reinhard Moss ern 3-A Sanitary Standards and Accepted Practices for Committee GEA Westfalia Separator virtually all major types of processing equipment. 3-A SSI Maryland Department of Group is completing a comprehensive conversion of all docu- Health Helen Piotter ments to a new format that will streamline the manage- Randy Elsberry Dean Foods Company ment and efficiency of the entire program. This experi- FDA/CFSAN-Milk Ronald Schmidt ence has enabled 3-A SSI to better serve industry in a Safety Branch Food Science & Human time of rapid industrial and technological advancement. Nutrition University of Florida 3-A SSI continues to expand and improve its Knowledge Resources to improve the awareness and understand- COUNSEL ing of hygienic equipment design to all stakeholders. Hugh Webster The e-learning modules, white papers and standards are Webster, Chamberlain & Bean gaining new audiences wherever the internet reaches. COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP When it comes to responsive standards development and Communications & Education Committee advancing conformance activities that meet the needs of Greg Marconnet, Mead & Hunt U.S. competitiveness and innovation, 3-A SSI provides a Finance Committee sound and trusted program to enhance food safety. This John Allan, International Dairy Foods Association program provides an important bridge between public health goals and private sector solutions. Our program Third Party Verification Coordinating Committee F. Tracy Schonrock continues to welcome and engage new constituents and it bolsters 3-A SSI’s important role in the industry. 3-A Steering Committee Paul Dix, Maryland Department of Health None of this progress would be possible without the vi- sion and support of the leadership and the participation 3-A SSI STAFF of expert volunteers from all walks and interests. We are Timothy R. Rugh, CAE, Executive Director excited about the future role of 3-A SSI in Promoting Food Michael S. Drumm, Director of Operations Safety Through Hygienic Design. Eric H. Schweitzer, Director, Standards and Certification A. Philomena Short, Technical Assistant 3-A Annual Report | 1 3-A Symbol Bolsters every five years thereafter, or any time there is a signifi- Hygienic Equipment Demand cant design change or non-conformance. Growing demand for modern hygienic equipment across The 3-A Symbol is a registered mark used since 1956 to all segments of the food processing industry enhanced identify equipment that meets 3-A Sanitary Standards for the demand for the 3-A Symbol authorization program in design and fabrication. Voluntary use of the 3-A Symbol 2018. Data on the sale of 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A on dairy and food equipment conveys assurance that Accepted Practices showed growing interest in hygienic equipment meets sanitary standards, provides accepted design criteria for human and non-human food process- criteria to equipment manufacturers for sanitary design, ing operations around the world. This interest reflected and establishes guidelines for uniform evaluation and in the 11th straight year of significant organic growth in compliance by sanitarians. the 3-A Symbol authorization program. Fabricators from across the U.S. and 24 other countries Recognition and demand for ‘3-A’ equipment is grow- maintain a 3-A Symbol authorization to verify the ing as processors must now maintain written plans to equipment conforms to 3-A Sanitary Standards. Other comply with the new federal rules on Preventive Controls countries include: under the Food Safety Modernization Act. The Preven- Belgium Israel Republic of Korea tive Controls rules require food processing facilities to Canada Italy Spain establish and implement a written food safety plan that China Japan Sweden includes an analysis of hazards and risk-based preven- Denmark Malta Switzerland tive controls. The voluntary 3-A Symbol authorization Finland Mexico Taiwan program helps regulatory professionals, processors, France Netherlands Thailand and fabricators identify equipment that conforms to the Germany New Zealand Turkey criteria of 3-A Sanitary Standards. India Poland United Kingdom The integrity of the 3-A Symbol authorization program rests upon the Third Party Verification (TPV) inspection The 3-A SSI website features on-line access to complete requirement. The TPV inspection requirement applies certificate information for all 3-A Symbol licensees. This to all equipment built to 3-A Sanitary Standards that public information offers detailed information on models is licensed to display the 3-A Symbol. A licensee must and equipment covered under a company’s license to engage a credentialed inspection professional, known assist regulatory sanitarians, processors, equipment as a Certified Conformance Evaluator (CCE), to conduct fabricators, and other interested parties. The information an on-site evaluation of finished equipment and other is searchable by the unique authorization number, equip- product attributes to affirm the equipment conforms to ment type/standard or company name. A copy of the provisions of the applicable 3-A Sanitary Standard. Any actual authorization certificate may also be generated deficiencies discovered in an inspection must be correct- and printed from the online database. The certificate ed before the equipment can be authorized to display search database is the most frequently visited area of the the 3-A Symbol. Equipment manufacturers that do not 3-A SSI web resources. comply with the TPV inspection requirement risk losing the authorization to use the 3-A Symbol. A complete on- The TPV requirement, combined with easy access to site TPV inspection is required upon application and once licensee information, has enhanced the level of integrity 2 | 3-A Annual Report and recognition of the 3-A Symbol for those concerned 3-A SSI reached out directly to the infringing companies with the safety of consumers of food, beverages and and requested their cooperation to stop the infringe- pharmaceutical products, fulfilling one of the primary ments. 3-A SSI also retained special counsel in the U.S. mission objectives of 3-A SSI. and in China to take actions in two major areas to coun- ter these infringements. First, 3-A SSI filed applications to 3-A SSI also recorded significant growth this year in anoth- register the 3-A Symbol in China with the China Trade- er voluntary certificate program for Replacement Parts and mark Office. Formal registration in China will enhance System Components. The Replacement Parts and System the ability of 3-A SSI to defend its registered mark. Final Component Qualification Certificate (RPSCQC) Program action on the applications is expected this year. is open to manufacturers of replacement parts or system components that are not otherwise eligible for 3-A Symbol 3-A SSI also consulted closely with U.S. trade authorities authorization. The RPSCQC is beneficial to certificate on effective ways to stop the imports of unlicensed prod- holders and customers because it affirms that such parts ucts into the U.S. 3-A SSI continues to pursue measures or system components are compatible with the design under U.S. law to protect the integrity of the 3-A Symbol criteria found in the relevant 3-A Sanitary Standard(s). The for customers in the U.S. and anywhere authentic equip- RPSCQC is often used in sales or marketing information. ment is specified. 3-A SSI applications are pending in the European Union 3-A SSI Acts to Protect the ‘3-A’ Brand Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to register the 3-A The integrity of the 3-A Symbol continues to face chal- Symbol as a certification mark in several classes of equip- lenges from unlicensed suppliers and 3-A SSI initiated ment. 3-A SSI also applied to register ‘3A’ as a “standard several major actions this year to defend the proper use character“ certification mark. A “standard character” mark of the 3-A Symbol and related claims. is used to register words, letters, numbers or any com- bination thereof, but does not lay claim to any particular The 3-A Symbol is registered by the U.S. Patent and font style, size, or design element. A “standard character” Trademark Office as the legal property of 3-A SSI.

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