President's 2007 Year End Message
Dear Members,
Well it is hard to believe that 2007 is nearly finished. And what a year it has been! Our thanks must go to the hosts of the IAFI World Seafood Congress 2007 held in Dublin. BIM, Enterprise Ireland, Food Safety Authority Ireland as well as our members from IFQC (Peter Marshall, Clare Winkel and Dave Garforth) did an outstanding job. There were many people involved from the IAFI Board, from the IAFI membership and supporting organisations €“ to you all I thank you for your efforts above and beyond the call of duty. I understand that the CD of the WSC proceedings will be available shortly so watch for announcements on the IAFI website www.iafi.net.
I am very pleased to announce that we have organised a special members discount for subscriptions to Seafood International. The discount will in itself almost pay for the cost of membership! So if you are wondering whether to be a member of IAFI, take advantage of this our first membership discount deal (we are working on others!) and renew your membership or join today. Contact Chris at the secretariat info@iafi.net. When you become a member we will tell you how to claim your membership discount.
Seafood International has provided excellent coverage of the IAFI World Seafood Congress 2007 and, in particular, our call for the authorities to review the advice on methyl mercury in seafood. In a poll of its readers 83% supported the call for a review of the situation. It is important that we all now contact the authorities in our respective areas and apply pressure in order to make them take notice and do something to amend the situation.
It is also important to thank one of our other strategic partners. Diversified Communications provided free stand space and advertising for IAFI to promote the WSC 07 at European Seafood Exposition this year in Brussels €“ if you are involved in seafood and you haven't been to the Brussels show you must put it in your calendar and make the effort to attend. ESE is really where the world of seafood meets so it fantastic to have Diversified Communications as one of our key partner organisations.
As 2007 draws to a close I would like to recognise the efforts of the IAFI Secretariat in Ottawa and all our Board members (old and new) who work hard, on a voluntary basis, to grow and support IAFI so that it can become a more effective global seafood partnership network €“ professionals involved in all areas of seafood trade.
Finally - IAFI relies heavily on income from our memberships so please renew your membership and encourage others to join. Contact us if you have ideas for IAFI. We are always looking for ideas and volunteers to help implement them.
Best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous 2008.
Jayne Gallagher
President
International Association of Fish Inspectors
an Association of Seafood Professionals
