The Cannabis Quality Conference and the Food Safety Consortium will take place under one roof and at the same time. With both food and cannabis markets innovating relentlessly with new technology and best practices to improve quality and safety, the two conferences running alongside each other will allow for a meeting of the minds like no other. CQC attendees will get full access to the Food Safety Consortium and vice versa. Mingle with your counterparts in other markets and see why the food and cannabis industries share so much in common.

“We are bringing two great conferences together under one roof,” says Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing and director of the Food Safety Consortium. “The Food Safety Consortium will continue its strategic meeting of the minds format, but we are complementing that with the practical, boots-on-the-ground Food Safety Hazards track. Co-location with Cannabis Quality allows attendees to take advantage of additional education on product testing and quality assurance in the burgeoning cannabis market, as well as pre-conference workshops delving into infused product safety and compliance, that will appeal to both food safety and cannabis professionals.”

The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations.

On-site attendees have full access to both the Food Safety Consortium and Cannabis Quality sessions and presentations.


Agenda
Monday, October 16
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
This 4-part series is designed to provide the knowledge, behaviors and technical skills attributed to a competent food safety auditor.
Presented by the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention in collaboration with Sage Media, this 1 day Workshop will guide food industry professionals through the necessary steps to create an actionable food safety culture strategy.
Led by four veterans of cannabis quality and safety, this pre-conference workshop offers participants an interactive and engaging opportunity to learn about the novel seed-to-sale safety considerations associated with cannabis edibles.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CP-FS Credential Review 1.5 Day Course. The Certified Professional – Food Safety (CP-FS) credential is the gold standard for those working in food safety and cannabis edibles.
Tuesday, October 17
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Rick Biros, Food Safety Consortium Conference Director opens the Consortium
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Canna Advisors and Bonfire Co-founder and CEO Jay Czarkowski offers a deep dive into mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis industry.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Day 2 (half day) of the CP-FS Credential Review Course.
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Hear from Sandra Eskin, Deputy Under Secretary Food Safety, USDA and Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Partnerships and Operational Policy, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), FDA
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Hear from Bill Marler, Attorney, Marler Clark, Barbara Kowalcyk, Executive Director, Center for Foodborne Illness and Shawn Stevens, Attorney, Food Industry Counsel in a Fireside Chat format
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Why people don't speak up and what to do about it.
The goal of this presentation is to walk through one method for establishing a strong quality culture at a cannabis company. Quality culture is a critical aspect of manufacturing, ensuring products meet the required standards consistently.
In this session, the challenges of identifying emerging hazards associated with Food Fraud, Food Fusion, Clean Labeling, and Protein Alternatives are described as well as developing some mitigation strategies to minimize their risk.
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
This presentation will review the UN Food & Agriculture Organization's recommendations of the Precautionary Allergen Labeling, including the prerequisite conditions, and the associated data-gathering and monitoring responsibilities of food manufacturers.
This presentation is a case history of how ASR Group developed a robust Food Safety Management System for their Supply Chain
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
This session will explore the FDA regulatory requirements, their relationship to existing programs and standards and will also discuss challenges and benefits of traceability and approaches to establishing a robust and compliant traceability program.
Rachel Wright, CPA MST, Co-Founder of AB FinWright LLP, will examine tax opportunities and pitfalls for today’s cannabis businesses.
Learn how allergen preventive control plans can protect companies and restaurants to minimize risk.
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
This presentation will address the top 10 food fraud products, how to spot potential food fraud and certification options and benefits of certification.
The word audit tends to strike fear in most folks, and for good reasons. When ethically running a business, you want to ensure you’re always up to snuff.
Hear from Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Partnerships and Operational Policy, ORA, FDA; Barbara Kowalcyk, Executive Director, CFI and Rance Baker, Director, NEHA in a Fireside Chat format
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday, October 18
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
This interactive panel discussion will explore how cybersecurity intersects with food safety and how food safety professionals can effectively engage with their cybersecurity teams to collaboratively manage this threat.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
In this session you will have the opportunity to learn about the emerging cybersecurity threats and attacks against the food and beverage industry
During this session, Tahir Johnson, founder of Simply Pure Trenton, the first black-owned, social equity dispensary in the state, will tell his story of entrepreneurship, career development and economic empowerment in his own words.
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
In cannabis, just getting the basic depository services that most businesses take for granted can be a mission. Credit? Forget it.
The panel will discuss how to embed the various components of a risk mitigation strategy across the company so it becomes part of the organization’s value system.
Attend this session with cannabis compliance expert Casey Leaver for insights and examples of what to do (and not to do) when it comes to compliance.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Forward looking while highlighting how to take an active role in the present, this presentation will focus on how recent lawsuits along with other state partnerships (such as California and Oregon) could propel cannabis interstate commerce forward.
As the culture of cannabis becomes centered around quality products, it is important for producers to understand new trademarks and technologies available to their total quality management processes.
Participants will learn how to create meaningful quality checks that focus on understanding where and why quality issues are occurring and how to prevent and correct them.
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
For those operating within the Garden State, what does work within New Jersey’s unique regulations look like, and how does it impact the day-to-day of cannabis businesses? What are the basics that one needs to know to stay compliant?
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Partnerships and Operational Policy, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), FDA and Shawn Stevens, Food Industry Counsel
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Security systems such as cameras, electronic access control, and alarms are tools. Tools are not solutions; they are tools. A strong security management program based upon experience, best practices, and standards must be developed and implemented.
This panel will seek to help both small and large producers improve the overall safety of their solventless products as the industry develops proper specifications.
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
A look back to the who, what, when and why of the events resulting in the Infant Formula recall.
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Rick Biros, Food Safety Consortium Conference Director closes the Consortium
Speakers
Deputy Under Secretary Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA, Food Safety & Inspection Service
Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy within the Office of Regulatory Affairs
FDA
President
Food Safety Tech, Innovative Publishing, Inc.
Executive Director
IT-ISAC
Manager of Science
Willow Industries
Director, Entrepreneurial Zone
NEHA
Senior Manager, Global Defense
Pepsi Co.
Sr. Director of Food Safety
TreeHouse Foods
CEI
AIM North America
Attorney
Food Industry Counsel, LLC
Americas Director, Food & Retail
BSI
CEO and Co-Founder
Canna Advisors
Principal
Gendel Food Safety LLC
Founding Member
Keystone Canna Remedies
Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality
B&G Foods
Sr. Director of Opertaions
SGS North America Health & Nutrition
CEO
Simply Pure Trenton
Solutions Owner
LabWare GROW
Principal
Kathy Knutson Food Safety Consulting LLC
Assoc. Professor and Executive Director
Center for Foodborne Illness & Prevention
Director of Quality Assurance
Wana Brands
Director Regulatory Compliance
Vicente LLP
Senior Director for Food Consulting Services
EAS Consulting
Food Safety Attorney
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm
Chief Scientific Officer
Final Bell
EVP & General Counsel
Matrix Sciences International, Inc.
Director Partnerships & Learning
Center for Foodborne Illness & Prevention, OSU
Supplier Quality Assurance Manager
ASR Group
Technical Director
CSQ
Head Food Safety Division
The Dennis Group
Technical Services
Mérieux NutriSciences
Food Safety Lawyer
Food Industry Counsel, LLC
Director of Specialty Banking
Hanover Bank
Senior Consultant
Guidepost Solutions, LLC
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Canna Advisors
Founder
BIPOCANN
Founder & President
The GMP Collective
Co-Owner
Sage Media
President
Association for Food Safety Auditing Professionals
President
ASI
Founder & Manager Partner
AB FinWright, LLP

No records found.

Exhibitors

No records found.

Registration Information

What are the Registration Prices:

We are happy to welcome everyone back for the 2023 Food Safety Consortium co-located with the Cannabis Quality Conference. We also understand not all travel budgets are created equal. To that end, we are offering a number of registration options to meet your needs.

CQC Registration - On-Site Only and Corporate Option (No Virtual or Enterprise)
FSC Registration - On-Site, Virtual, Corporate and Enterprise Options

All On-Site Attendees have full access to all CQC, FSC AND Food Defense Consortium Sessions

We are also offering a number of Pre-Conference Trainings and Workshops (Sunday/Monday) that include FULL On-Site Access to CQC, FSC and Defense Consortium Sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday

Food Defense Consortium ONLY registration is available for Wednesday   

* CQC & FSC Individual Registration - In Person On-Site:

Early Bird - $395 - Available until June 30, 2023
Advanced - $595 - Available between July 1 - Aug. 31
Full Price - $795 - Available between Sept. 1 - Oct. 6
Late/On-Site - $995 - Available Oct. 7

This is a Single Participant registration. The On-Site option provides you the ability to be present in "the room when it happens," and engaging with colleagues and vendorsThe Virtual option provides you the ability to attend live broadcasts of sessions as they happen throughout the 2 days of the conference (Tuesday and Wednesday).

* CQC & FSC On-Site Corporate Rate Registration:

Early Bird - $1185 - Available until June 30, 2023
Advanced - $1785 - Available between July 1 - Aug. 31
Full Price - $2385 - Available Sept. 1 - Oct. 6
Late/On-Site - $2985 - Available Oct. 6

This is a Corporate Registration available to companies wishing to send up to 5 colleagues. All registrations MUST be done at the same time. There will be no retroactive registrations.

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A for FSC ONLY (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* FSC Individual Virtual Registration:

Early Bird - $595 - Available until June 30, 2023
Advanced - $795 - Available between July 1 - Aug. 31
Full Price - $995 - Available between Sept. 1 - Oct. 6
Late/On-Site - $1295 - Available Oct. 7

This Virtual option provides you the ability to attend live broadcasts of the Track A sessions as they happen throughout the 2 days of the conference (Tuesday and Wednesday). Track B sessions, Food Defense Consortium and CQC Sessions ARE NOT available Virtually.

Both options (On Site and Virtual) include access to the recordings of all sessions in general session room (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* FSC Enterprise Hybrid Registration

Early Bird - $995 - Available until June 30, 2023
Advanced - $1190 - Available between July 1 - Aug. 31
Full Price - $1590 - Available between Sept. 1 - Oct. 6
Late/On-Site - $1990 - Available Oct. 7 

This Registration option provides you the ability to attend have ONE On-Site Registration + UNLIMITED Virtual Participants from your company. Your virtual participants will be able to participate remotely during the live broadcasts of the Track A sessions as they happen throughout the 2 days of the conference (Tuesday and Wednesday). Track B sessions, Food Defense Consortium and CQC Sessions ARE NOT available Virtually.

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* FSC Enterprise Virtual Registration

Early Bird - $995 - Available until June 30, 2023
Advanced - $1190 - Available between July 1 - Aug. 31
Full Price - $1590 - Available between Sept. 1 - Oct. 6
Late/On-Site - $1990 - Available Oct. 7 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register UNLIMITED Virtual Participants from your company. Your virtual participants will be able to participate remotely during the live broadcasts of the Track A sessions as they happen throughout the 2 days of the conference (Tuesday and Wednesday). Track B sessions, Food Defense Consortium and CQC Sessions ARE NOT available Virtually.

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* Food Defense Consortium ONLY Registration - Wednesday Oct. 18 ONLY

Early Bird - $195 - Available until June 30, 2023
Advanced - $295 - Available between July 1 - Aug. 31
Full Price - $395 - Available between Sept. 1 - Oct. 6
Late/On-Site - $495 - Available Oct. 7 

This Registration option provides you the ability to participate during ALL Wednesday Sessions. This is an IN-PERSON ON-SITE registration option ONLY. You will be able to attend ANY of the sessions being presented on Wednesday, including FSC, Food Defense Consortium and CQC Sessions. Remember ONLY FSC TRACK A sessions will be available virtually. No other sessions will be available Virtually.

* PRE-CONFERENCE SEED-TO-SALE SAFETY WORKSHOP - Please see additional information in Pre-Conference Workshop Page

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31
Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register for the  Seed-To-Sale Safety Workshop being held Monday October 16, and includes FULL Access to all sessions including FSC, CQC and Food Defense. This is an ON-SITE registration ONLY. 

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* PRE-CONFERENCE CP-FS (Certified Professional - Food Safety) Credential NEHA Review Course (Includes 11.5 CE Hours) - Please see additional information in Pre-Conference Workshop Page

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31
Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register for the  NEHA CP-FS Review Course being held Monday October 16 and Tuesday October 17. This registration includes FULL Access to all sessions including FSC, CQC and Food Defense, on Tuesday October 17, and Wednesday Oct. 18. This is an ON-SITE registration ONLY. 

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* PRE-CONFERENCE AUDITOR TRAINING WORKSHOP - Please see additional information in Pre-Conference Workshop Page

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31
Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register for the Auditor Training Workshop being held Monday October 16, and includes FULL Access to all sessions including FSC, CQC and Food Defense. This is an ON-SITE registration ONLY. 

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* PRE-CONFERENCE PRODUCT RECALL WORKSHOP - Please see additional information in Pre-Conference Workshop Page

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31
Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register for the Product Recall Workshop being held Monday October 16, and includes FULL Access to all sessions including FSC, CQC and Food Defense. This is an ON-SITE registration ONLY. 

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

* PRE-CONFERENCE ADVANCED LISTERIA WORKSHOP - Please see additional information in Pre-Conference Workshop Page

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31
Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register for the Advanced Listeria Workshop being held Monday October 16, and includes FULL Access to all sessions including FSC, CQC and Food Defense. This is an ON-SITE registration ONLY. 

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event)

Can I Cancel my Registration:

Cancellations minus a 20% cancellation fee are available until October 7, 2022. Cancellations MUST be submitted in WRITING to Veronica Allen, CMP events manager at vallen@innovativepublishing.net. Cancellation requests MUST be receive by October 7, 2022. There will be NO refunds on Cancellations received after October 7. 

We will gladly substitute your registration to another colleague.

What sessions are included in the VIRTUAL Registration:

Only sessions in TRACK A for the Food Safety Consortium will be available virtually.  All REGISTRATIONS will receive access to a gated link to the recordings for you to listen to after the event.  Recordings will be available about a week after the event.

I can't make the In-Person event, what can I do?

If you registered to attend in Person, and you can not make the trip, NO PROBLEM! Please let us know that you will not be able to attend in person (via email to vallen@innovativepublishing.net) and we will send you the links to join the live sessions for TRACK A of the Food Safety Consortium.

Do you have a room block at the hotel?

We have a limited block of rooms for the conference at the Hilton Parsippany for the discounted rate of $199++ per night. This rate will be available until Monday, October 2, 2023. Make your reservations early, because the block will fill up fast! You can select the HILTON PARSIPPANY button on this page or visit HILTON PARSIPPANY.  

Please note that reservations that are made outside the designated room block will incur an additional $150 registration penalty price increase.

Transportation information

The Hilton Parsippany is 21 miles from Newark International Airport

54 Miles from JFK International Airport

43 Miles from La Guardia Airport

You can also take the train from NYC into Morris Plain Station, located at Speedwell Avenue & US-202, Morris Plain, NJ 07950. You will need to take an Uber to the hotel for about $10-$12 for a 10 minute ride.

Parking at the hotel is self-parking and free of charge, with plenty of spaces in front of the hotel.

Please note that NONE of these ancillary charges are reimbursable by Innovative Publishing, LLC or The Food Safety Consortium.
Pre-Conference Workshops Information

PRE-CONFERENCE SEED-TO-SALE SAFETY WORKSHOP

The Seed-to-Sale Safety Workshop offers participants an interactive and engaging opportunity to learn about the novel seed-to-sale safety considerations associated with cannabis edibles. The workshop is designed not only to educate participants but to engage them directly in developing the critical thinking skills necessary to identify, analyze and control the unique risks associated with cannabis edibles.

 

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31
Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1 

 

PRE-CONFERENCE CP-FS (Certified Professional - Food Safety) Credential NEHA Review Course (Includes 11.5 CE Hours

Certified Professional-Food Safety (CP-FS) credential review course was developed by industry experts from across the country to provide participants with a review of the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the CP-FS Credential Exam. This course reviews the knowledge and skills necessary to help ensure safe food in any retail environment – as a quality assurance or quality control manager, a facility manager, a food-safe chemical supplier, or as a regulatory inspector/investigator. Topics covered in this course include:

 * Causes and prevention of foodborne illness
 * HACCP plans and active managerial control
 * Cleaning and sanitizing
 * Conducting facility plan reviews
 Pest control
 * Risk-based inspections
 * Sampling food for laboratory analysis
 * Food defense
 * Responding to food emergencies and foodborne illness outbreaks
 * Legal aspects of food safety

This registration is for the course only, to apply to take the CP-FS credential exam, please visit:https://www.neha.org/cpfs-credential

 

A completed application must be submitted and approved prior to scheduling an exam. All NEHA credential exams are offered electronically through testing centers.

 

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31

Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1


 * PRE-CONFERENCE AUDITOR TRAINING WORKSHOP

Workshop Participants will be provided an in depth overview of the food safety auditing profession. 4 part series designed to provide the knowledge, behaviors and technical skills attributed to a competent food safety auditor. The series includes 3 virtual 2 hour presentations conducted by a live instructor to support participants learning experience regardless of their current level of auditing experience. These sessions are recorded and available for additional self-paced study for less experienced participants, while experienced auditors can refresh their understanding of auditing fundamentals before advancing to the more complex skills and critical thinking behaviors needed to audit high risk products. The course culminates with a full day of in person instruction on advanced topics such as potential conflicts of interest, enhanced conflict resolution techniques and providing tips in advanced written communication skills to support the delivery of comprehensive audit reports. A variety of learning techniques such as case studies and role playing will be used to reinforce the knowledge and skills covered by this course of study.

 

Registrants will participate in a 4 part series of virtual presentations that will culminate in the day of review class. The one day review, conducted On-Site in Parsippany, NJ, will include case studies and role playing to reinforce the knowledge and skills covered by this course of study. Once you register for this Pre-Conference workshop, you will receive invitations to join the webinars PRIOR to arrival at the Review day.

 

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31

Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1


 * PRE-CONFERENCE FOOD SAFETY CULTURE WORKSHOP

Advanced - $1095 - Available between until Aug. 31

Full Price - $1295 - Available starting Sept. 1

 

This Registration option provides you the ability to register for the Product Recall Workshop being held Monday October 16, and includes FULL Access to all sessions including FSC, CQC and Food Defense. This is offered in Person and Virtually.

This option includes access to the recordings of all sessions in Track A (available about 48 hrs after the end of the event.

Floor Plan


Exhibitors & Sponsor Info
Reserving your tabletop and sponsorship is a sound business decision. The Food Safety Consortium/Cannabis Quality Conference gives sponsors new and innovative tools for face to face lead generation. With limited space for exhibits, get exclusive access to hundreds of attendees, interact with participants and reserve a spot for your business today before they sell out. For Sponsorship  and Exhibit information contact RJ Palermo or download the information here