What's New Recent developments and announcements

Task Force Announcements

· IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR SUBGROUP MEMBERS AND THE TASK FORCE

· Changes to Subgroups as of January 05

· Our Task Force in 2005 (online resources, membership, meetings)

· Quilliam to be honored by AOAC at Orlando Annual Meeting

· Call to seafood industries and governments: We are looking for stakeholders

· June 2005 (Seattle, Washington) Pacific NW AOAC, Task Force

· Sept 2005 (Orlando, Florida) Toxins Symposium and Award Symposium, Task Force at AOAC Annual Meeting

· Dec 2005 (Honolulu, Hawaii) Marine Toxin Symposium, Pacifichem 2005

Baiona, Spain Toxin Symposium and Task Force Meeting (dates April 11-14, 2005)

· Vendor and Sponsor Options

· Abstracts due Jan 30

· Update and Final Call for Papers

Overview The Task Force is an international group of experts on marine and freshwater toxins, and stakeholders who have a strong and practical interest in the development and validation of methods for detection of these toxins. Marine toxins and freshwater toxins require extensive monitoring programs and have a significant economic and human health impact. Although there is a strong and global need for improved testing methods for these toxins, the demand for new, officially validated methods has not been met. The Task Force addresses this need by focusing efforts, setting priorities, and identifying economic and intellectual resources. The group will establish methods priorities, determine fitness for purpose, identify and review available methodology, recommend methodology for validation, and identify complementary analytical tools. Once appropriate analytical methodology has been identified or developed, the Task Force will identify financial and technical resources necessary to validate the methodology.

Communications Most communications in the Task Force do not require in-person meetings. Electronic (internet) communications are more efficient and address most concerns in time commitment, travel funding restrictions, and internationally, time zone limitations. On-line forums will arrive in late January 2005 (access will require AOAC membership; see Our Task Force in 2005 for this and membership information. http://www.aoac.org/membership/IndividualMembership.html for membership information). Electronic mail is also used but the creation of new subgroups and growth of the Task Force (and email inbox overload) demands the online forum approach. Occasional face-to-face meetings and conference calls are also held in conjunction with AOAC meetings (regional and national) appropriate toxin symposia, stakeholder-related meetings, etc.

Contact Task Force Chair Jim Hungerford at James.Hungerford@fda.gov, tel: (425) 483-4894
                        AOAC Liaison Anita Mishra at Amishra@aoac.org phone (301) 924-7077 Ext 131.