CDFA ANNOUNCES VACANCIES ON THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CALIFORNIA RENDERING INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD

SACRAMENTO, March 7, 2012 –The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch (MPES) is announcing seven (7) vacancies on the newly established Rendering Industry Advisory Board.  This advisory board makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to the MPES Rendering Program including:

• Adoption, modification, and repeal of regulations and procedures.
• Procedures for employment, training, supervision, and compensation of inspectors and other personnel.
• Rate and collection of license fees and penalties.
• Acquisition and use of equipment.
• Posting and noticing changes in bylaws, general procedures, or orders.
• All matters pertaining to Food and Agricultural Code Division 9, Part 3, Chapter 5, including, but not limited to, the inspection and enforcement program, annual budget, necessary fees to provide adequate services, and regulations required to accomplish the purposes of the chapter.

The board was established by the passage and signing of SB 513 (Cannella), which was supported by members of the rendering industry. The term of office for a board member is one to three years initially and three years thereafter. The members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

Six of the seven vacancies are to be filled by licensed renderers, dead haulers, and transporters of inedible kitchen grease. At least one of these six licensee vacancies must be filled by someone that has experience and expertise in alternative uses of rendered products, including, but not limited to, use as energy, alternative fuels, lubricants, and other nontraditional uses.
 
There is also a vacancy for a public member.  The public member must have experience and expertise in one or more of the following:  water quality, publicly owned treatment works and water infrastructure, or law enforcement.

Individuals interested in being considered for the board appointment should send a brief resume by March 30, 2012 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Meat Poultry and Egg Safety, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, California 95814, Attention: Dr. Bruce Carter.

For additional information, visit the branch’s web page at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/mpes/index.html or contact: Dr. Doug Hepper, Chief, Meat Poultry and Egg Safety at (916) 900-5004, by fax, (916) 900-5334, or e-mail (dhepper@cdfa.ca.gov).

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