August 1998   Volume IV, No.2

The 7th INTERNATIONAL WORKING CONFERENCE ON STORED-PRODUCT PROTECTION, to be held in Beijing, China from October 14-19, 1998, contains a session on "Stored Products and Mycotoxins". Contact: 7th IWCSPP Secretariat, 95 Huapaifang Street, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P.R. China. Fax: +86-28-777-1523, E-Mail: iwcspp@public.cd.sc.cn.

A European network on AGRICULTURALLY IMPORTANT TOXIGENIC FUNGI (COST action 835) was formed in March, 1998, as a concerted action to gather researchers from European institutions which intend to cooperate in this area. The network is coordinated by A. Logrieco of the CNR Institute of Toxins and Mycotoxins, Bari, Italy (Fax: +39-80-548-6063, E-Mail: logrieco@area. ba.cnr.it) and involves working groups on: 1) Bio-diversity, phylogeny and taxonomy of toxigenic fungi, 2) Genetics and physiology of toxigenic fungi, 3) Ecology and pathogenicity of toxigenic fungi, 4) Biological and chemical characterization of toxic metabolites, 5) Toxigenic fungi in sustainable agriculture: biopesticides. The 1st ANNUAL WORKSHOP is being organized by E. Tjamos (Dept. of Plant Pathology, Agricultural University, Athens. Fax: +30-1-529-4513) and will be held in Athens, Greece, from October 29-31, 1998.

An INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MYCOTOXINS AND FOOD SAFETY will be held in Sydney, Australia, from November 8-10, 1998. The scientific program includes a series of symposia, some dealings with current issues in mycotoxicology, and specific issues related to human food and animal feed safety. Each session topic will be introduced by a multi-disciplinary plenary presentation, followed by a limited number of formal platform presentations and a display of posters related to the session topics. Both oral and poster contributions will be published in the proceedings or, possibly, in an international journal. Contact: W. L. Bryden, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Sidney, Camden NSW 2570, Australia. Fax: +61-246-550-693, E-Mail: wayneb@camden.usyd.edu .au.

The 3rd FAO/WHO/UNEP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MYCOTOXINS is expected to be held in Tunis, Tunisia, from December 2-5, 1998. The 1st and 2nd Conferences on Mycotoxins, held in 1977 and 1987 respectively, discussed different aspects of mycotoxin contamination prevention and control. Furthermore, the conferences proposed a series of actions aimed at minimizing the economic and health effects of mycotoxins and enhancing preventive measures at all levels. These recommendations were the basis for the development of national and international programs to prevent mold growth and control mycotoxin contamination. The objectives of the 3rd Conference are as follows: 1) To increase the awareness of policy makers of the health risks and economic impacts of mycotoxin contamination of foods and feeds; 2) To provide a forum for food control officials, scientists, and policy makers to exchange information and experiences on various aspects of mycotoxin prevention and control, including post-harvest handling, processing, transportation and storage, regulations, sampling, analysis, etc.; 3) To review current scientific knowledge related to mycotoxins with particular reference to new emerging mycotoxins; 4) To promote the harmonization of mycotoxin regulations and control procedures, and facilitate international food trade based on sound scientific principles and risk analysis; 5) To make recommendations on strategies for further prevention and control of mycotoxin contamination while minimizing food losses and ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food supply.

The 3rd Conference will produce a report that will contain an overall review of the current scientific knowledge on major mycotoxins and their impact on human health, the environment, and the national economies of developing countries. It will give particular attention to emerging mycotoxins. The report will also contain internationally agreed upon recommendations on strategies and programs for enhancing the prevention and control of mycotoxin contamination. Contact: E. Boutrif, FAO, Food Quality and Standards Service, Via Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39-65-225-4593; E-Mail: Ezzeddine.Boutrif@fao.org.

The PAN AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGEN SOCIETY (PAEMS) is organizing a conference on "Susceptibility to Environmental Mutagens: Molecular, Epidemiological and Public Health Aspects" to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, March 1-5, 1999. The deadline for completed abstract forms is October 30, 1998. Contact: J. A. Hasler, PAEM 99, Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Fax: +2-63-433-3678, E-Mail: hasler@giraffe.icon.co.zw.

Anyone interested in attending the 1999 GORDON CONFERENCE ON MYCOTOXINS AND PHYCOTOXINS should contact M. Beremand, Dept. of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. Fax: 409-685-6483, E-Mail: m-beremand@tamu.edu.

The 10th INTERNATIONAL IUPAC SYMPOSIUM ON MYCOTOXINS AND PHYCOTOXINS, organized by Myrna Sabino of the Adolfo Lutz Institute, Sao Paulo (Fax: +55-11-853-3505, E-Mail: myrna@sti.com.br), will be held from May 21-25, 2000 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The second announcement, to be issued in February 1999 together with a call for papers, can be received upon request to: Executive Secretariat, R. Capitao Antonio Rosa, 376-1 andar, 01443-010 Sao Paulo Brazil. E-Mail: eventosos@ complete.com.br.

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