GMA Science Forum to include former Canadian WTO ambassador, CBS White House correspondent

WASHINGTON — Global perspectives on scientific, regulatory and technical developments in product safety, health and well-being will be the feature as hundreds of experts from the consumer packaged goods industry meet Wednesday at the Grocery Manufacturers Association Science Forum.

The GMA said Wednesday that the forum had attracted at least 450 attendees who will hear from more than 70 speakers on how to advance the consumer packaged goods industry's product safety, health and well-being mission. The conference, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C., will include manufacturer CEOs, chief science officers, vice presidents of research and development and representatives from allied trade groups in the United States and abroad.

"Consumers expect industry and government to work together to provide the world with the safest possible products," GMA president and CEO Pamela Bailey said. "The GMA Science Forum is the flagship event for this type of public-private collaboration, bringing the CPG scientific community, government and academia together at the intersection of sound science and responsible policy."

The forum will feature former Canadian ambassador to the World Trade Organization John Weekes, Food and Drug Administration deputy commissioner of foods Michael Taylor, CBS News White House correspondent Major Garrett and others.