News : PQA Plus and TQA Certification Opportunity for Pork Producers

Pork producers’ desire for continuous improvement in production practices and exceeding customers’ demands for quality assurance measures spurred changes to the voluntary Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) program. Revisions to PQA Plus were announced during World Pork Expo 2013. A part of the pork industry’s We CareSM initiative, PQA Plus provides a framework for significant, relevant food safety standards and improved animal well-being.

PQA Plus has evolved since its introduction in 1989 with regular revisions and updates to increase its effectiveness, incorporate new research information, and ensure the program’s validity with customers. PQA Plus incorporates 10 Good Production Practices to align more closely with the We Care initiative principles. Revisions to PQA Plus were effective June 7, 2013.

Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus certification training will be offered on Tuesday April 1st, 2014 from 9:30 to 11:30 am. at the Iowa County Extension Office in Williamsburg for any adult (18 years and older) wishing to be certified. A fee of $25.00 per participant will be assessed for the PQA Plus certification training. The PQA Plus certification status is for three years.

Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) certification training will occur from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm also on April 1. A fee of $25 per participant will be assessed for the TQA certification training. Both the PQA Plus and TQA require an open book test at the end of the presentation.

The Iowa County Extension Office is located at 223 West Welsh Street, Williamsburg, southwest corner of the square.

For more information on the PQA Plus certification program please call the Iowa County Extension office (319) 668-1052 or Terry Steinhart at the Keokuk County Extension Office in Sigourney at (515) 622-2680, or email at tsteinha@iastate.edu .