SUBJECT: TRADE MEETING [DECEMBER 1, 2003] – IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT OF 2002

The Trade Community is invited to participate in a public meeting to discuss the implementation on December 12, 2003 of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The meeting will include a customized powerpoint slide show presented by Howard Hodes, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, followed by a question and answer session. Other representatives from CBP and Food & Drug will be available to answer questions and provide information regarding the BTA implementation. The attached document contains questions and answers that may be helpful in preparing for the meeting.

The meeting will take place as follows:

Date: Monday, December 1, 2003Time: 10:00AM – 12:30PM CST

Location: N.O. District Office of the Food & Drug Administration 6600 Plaza Drive
Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70127-2601

There is limited space, so please respond as soon as possible but no later than November 26th to Howard Hodes, CBP, @ 504 670-2161, Email @ howard.hodes@dhs.gov or fax @ 504 670-2083. Feel free to pass this invitation on to any importers, shippers, carriers, etc. that may have concerns about the implementation of the new Bioterrorism Act.