The Snack Food Association’s (SFA) 2006 Day in D.C. Spring Summit will be held May 16-18 at the Sofitel Lafayette Square Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

Snack food industry senior executives will have an opportunity to meet with lawmakers to discuss many of the key issues facing their companies and the industry as a whole. A high priority on the agenda will be an emphasis on passing national uniformity legislation, which has been a major priority for SFA this year. That measure would stop the states from enacting a patchwork of differing food safety laws, such as California’s Proposition 65 and the unnecessary labeling of food products.

In addition, members will be seeking Senate support of the so-called “Cheeseburger Bill,” which would stop frivolous lawsuits against food manufacturers and restaurants seeking to blame them for people becoming obese. The House approved that measure last year. (For more details, see “On the Hill, p.63”).

“In my 14 years with SFA, I have noticed that the most effective lobbying efforts on our issues are when our members meet face to face with their members of Congress,” says Jim McCarthy, SFA president and CEO. “I want to encourage all SFA member-company executives to consider joining us in Washington for this important conference. This is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with lawmakers and to tell them how important their decisions are to our companies and our industry.”

The conference will include meetings on Capitol Hill, a major political speaker, briefings by top government officials and other special events. A number of SFA committee meetings also will be held. Program details are being finalized and will be announced soon, along with complete registration information.