Secretary Leavitt to Address Industry Summit on Import Safety

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt will deliver the keynote address at an industry-sponsored Import Safety Summit on Wednesday, July 9, at 8:45 a.m. EDT at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

Immediately following his address, Leavitt will participate in a panel discussion with senior executives from a variety of industries about the importance of maintaining product safety.

Leavitt will offer an assessment of public and private import safety efforts and will preview some additional steps the administration will take.

Other senior HHS officials will also participate in the daylong summit. FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach will moderate a panel discussion focused on imported medical products from 1:15-2:15 p.m. Dr. David Acheson, FDA Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection, will take part in a standards and certification panel at 10:45 a.m.

Members of the panel include Douglas R. Conant, president and CEO, Campbell Soup Company; Ronald Guido, vice president of global brand protection and supply chain integrity, Johnson and Johnson; Kim Lopdrup, president, Red Lobster; Steve Smith, president and CEO, K-VA-T Food Stores; Gerald Storch, president and CEO, Toys “R” Us; and John P. Suarez, senior vice president and general counsel, Wal-Mart Stores.

Last week, the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety released a new report detailing significant and ongoing improvements that have been made to increase the safety of imported products.