The community website for management system professionals, www.businessassurance.com , launched updates to its new food safety section today at www.businessassurance.com/food . The new section focuses on key issues facing the food safety industry, including improving and harmonizing food safety processes, traceability, management systems, supply chain assurance, risk management, carbon labeling, and sustainability.

With commentary and insight from LRQA Food Safety and Supply Chain experts, the food section contains several podcasts, including pieces on supply chain assurance, carbon labeling, and an organic farming podcast, with an interview from Gundula Azeez, Policy Manager of the Soil Association.

The food section features six subsections designed to provide the user with a comprehensive set of information, tools and resources including information on regional as well as global food legislation, a news section that is consistently updated with the latest news on food safety issues, as well as information on events and conferences relevant to the food industry.

Cor Groenveld, the Global Product Manager for LRQA's food services said, “The importance of food safety has been highlighted by the recent health scares and product recalls around the globe. The new food safety section at www.businessassurance.com/food is a one stop shop for people looking for information, guidance and a discussion forum on all issues related to food safety and the food supply chain.”

LRQA created www.businessassurance.com , the world's first ever knowledge sharing portal for management systems professionals, in November of 2006. The launch of topic specific sections extends the website's key focus through six key categories of information for each new section:

• Podcasts
• News
• Blogs
• Resources library
• Calendar of events
• Directory of standards

Interactive features allow any site visitor to comment on and discuss any items found on the site as well as introduce new topics to the community.

LRQA www.businessassurance.com/food Food Section podcasts:

• Supply Chain Assurance http://businessassurance.com/supply-chain-assurance-podcast-episode-1
• Organic Farming http://businessassurance.com/organic-farming-podcast
• Carbon Labeling http://businessassurance.com/carbon-labelling-podcast

Further topic specific sections include supply chain assurance, climate change and corporate social responsibility.

NOTES

•  LRQA, a member of the Lloyd's Register Group, works across global supply chains providing verification, certification and training services to a range of business sectors worldwide, including food and beverage manufacturing, distribution and retail companies. LRQA has issued thousands of global approvals in areas including environmental, quality, food safety, supply chain assurance, health and safety, and security.

•  Lloyd's Register is an independent risk management organization. The Lloyd's Register Group works to help improve its clients' quality, safety, environmental and business performance throughout the world, because life matters.

Contact:
Michelle Larch
Regional Marketing Manager
Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance
T : 281-646-6301
E: michelle.larch@lrqa.com
www.lrqausa.com

Vel Pillay
Food Safety Manager, Americas
Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance
T: 905-864-6986
E: vel.pillay@lrqa.com
www.lrqausa.com