The meeting will be at W hotel, located in the financial district (Las Condes) of Santiago from 30 September to 2 October. The Chilean Poultry Association is the host organisation for the event.

Based in Buenos Aires, Dr Barcos is one of 11 regional OIE representatives around the world. Their goal is to work with OIE member countries in their regions to strengthen and control animal diseases.

Barcos will join a stellar line-up of international speakers on the IPC program, including Osler Desouzart, an international marketing consultant from Brazil, and Dr Paul Aho, poultry economist based in the United States.

Also scheduled to speak are José Guzman, CEO of Agro Super, Chile's largest chicken-production company, and Marta Ikeda, director for market development in the Americas for Brasil Foods.

In 2008, the OIE granted recognition to the IPC as the official organization representing the world's poultry meat producers. Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two groups, the OIE will consult with the IPC when developing global animal health and welfare issues.

Earlier this year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations signed an MOU with the IPC recognizing the organization as the official body representing the global industry. The IPC also has received similar recognition by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

More than 20 countries are represented in the IPC membership.

Registration is available on line at the IPC web site [click here]. For more on the meeting, or for membership inquiries, contact IPC Executive Secretary, George Winn ([email protected].