HHS Secretary to Visit Pacific Seafood to Discuss Import Safety, Preview Trip to...

HHS Secretary to Visit Pacific Seafood to Discuss Import Safety, Preview Trip
to China

The busy holiday shopping season is underway and many Americans may have
questions about the safety of food and products they buy -- many of which are
imported. With this in mind, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt
will visit Pacific Seafood on Wednesday to talk about import safety and ways
to better protect consumers.
Secretary Leavitt recently presented President Bush with an Action Plan
developed by an intra-governmental Import Safety Working Group to provide
specific recommendations to enhance the safety of the increasing volume of
imports entering the United States. Increased penalties of up to $10 million,
new certification methods, enhanced enforcement authority and a larger U.S.
presence at overseas facilities are just some of the provisions of the Action
Plan.
Pacific Seafood Group is a family owned seafood company based in the
Western United States. The Pacific Group processes West Coast products from
Alaska to Mexico and owns and operates distribution facilities and distributes
in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah. The
company exports products throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East and also
imports products from many of these areas. During the visit, the Secretary
will also preview his upcoming trip to China, where he hopes to finalize
agreements with the Chinese government on the safety of Chinese-made goods
exported to the U.S.
Credentialed members of the media are invited to participate in the tour
and will have the opportunity to ask questions of Secretary Leavitt at a press
availability that will follow.
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007
9:10 a.m. PDT Secretary Leavitt tours Pacific Seafood Group
9:40 a.m. PDT Media Availability
(NOTE: media should arrive by 2:45 p.m. PDT)

WHERE: Pacific Seafood Group
16797 S E. 130th Avenue
Clackamas, Oregon 97015

CONTACT: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

CREDENTIALED PRESS, PLEASE ARRIVE BY 8:45 A.M. PDT.

For more information and a copy of the Action Plan, please visit
www.importsafety.gov
SOURCE U.S. Department of Health and Human Services