News and Press Releases


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2007

Contact: Timothy R. Rugh, CAE
Email: trugh@3-a.org

3-A SSI Announces Authorized 3-A Symbol Holders
McLEAN, Virginia – 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) recently updated its public website information on current 3-A Symbol authorizations to assist regulatory sanitarians, processors and equipment fabricators. The new information shows the most current database of authorized 3-A Symbol holders. A separate list of discontinued 3-A Symbol holders also appears on the 3-A SSI website. This information lists the reason for discontinuation, such as the equipment is no longer in production, the equipment was consolidated in another 3-A Symbol authorization resulting from a change in company ownership, or the failure of the holder to maintain the authorization in accordance with the terms and conditions for use of the 3-A Symbol.

According to 3-A SSI Chair Greg Marconnet (Kraft Foods), “Interest in products holding 3-A Symbol authorization is now higher than ever because most licensees have obtained a Third Party Verification (TPV) inspection required to maintain their authorization. Due to industry consolidation, product withdrawals, and other reasons, many products no longer maintain a 3-A Symbol authorization and the new information helps interested parties understand why some licenses have been discontinued.”

The lists of current and discontinued 3-A Symbol holders are available on the 3-A SSI web site at www.3-a.org/symbol/holders.htm. “The latest updates were made upon the transition of all 3-A Symbol authorizations to a new calendar-year period in 2007,” says Tim Rugh, executive director of 3-A SSI, citing the high interest among regulatory sanitarians, processors and fabricators for current information. “Because most 3-A Symbol holders have obtained a TPV inspection, there is stronger reliance on the 3-A Symbol among all parties,” he said.

Introduced in 1956, the 3-A Symbol is a registered mark used to identify equipment that meets 3-A Sanitary Standards for design and fabrication. Voluntary use of the 3-A Symbol on dairy and food equipment assures processors that equipment meets sanitary standards, provides accepted criteria to equipment manufacturers for sanitary design, and establishes guidelines for uniform evaluation and compliance by sanitarians.

Use of the 3-A Symbol was based on a system of self-certification until late 2003, when 3-A SSI initiated the new TPV inspection requirement. The new requirement was phased in on an annual basis for various groups of equipment holding a 3-A Symbol authorization. TPV inspections were due for the final group of equipment at the end of 2006, except for equipment in a small number of groups for which 3-A Sanitary Standards revisions are pending. At the end of 2006, approximately 450 TPV inspections had been completed for equipment fabricated in the U.S. and 18 countries around the world.

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3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enhance product safety
for consumers of food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products through the development and use of 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices. Visit the 3-A SSI web site at www.3-a.org.