Clonakilty, 16th May 2017 More than 200 international delegates are attending the 11th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS) taking place this week at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Co-hosted by the SFPA, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Irish Shellfish Association and NUI Galway, the ICMSS is the only international conference that focuses specifically on molluscan shellfish safety. Previously the conference has taken place in New Zealand, Canada, France, Spain, Australia, USA, and Chile.
The event brings together food safety professionals, scientists, regulators and industry experts to exchange ideas, information and the latest research findings, and also offers the opportunity for delegates to review the current and future prospects in molluscan shellfish safety.
Public health specialist Dorothy-Jean McCoubrey, who has more than 30 years of experience in regulatory roles in New Zealand, is the keynote speaker. Other speakers during the five-day event include Jim Oliver, Bonnie Cone Distinguished Professor and Professor of Microbiology at the University of North Carolina Charlotte (USA) and Andrew Turner, Principle Chemist at Cefas Weymouth Food Safety Group (UK). In addition, the ICMSS will include a series of workshops on Friday 19 May that explore new technologies and regulatory matters in food safety.
On Thursday, the SFPA will present the Donal O’Callaghan memorial award for the best poster displayed at the event, in memory of the late Director of Food Safety who died suddenly last year.
ENDS