Invensys' Wonderware Offers eCompliance Solutions to Address Bioterrorism Response Act

LAKE FOREST -- Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys Systems, Inc., today announced that it now offers eCompliance Solutions designed to respond to the "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act" of 2002. The Wonderware Strategic Integration Group (WSIG) will implement the eCompliance Solutions.

The Bioterrorism Response Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush on June 12, 2002, requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enact and enforce regulations to protect the food supply in the event of a terrorist attack. Every food-processing company in the U.S., excluding farms and restaurants, is required follow these regulations, which ensure that food companies can account for every link in their supply chain.

"After the regulations go into effect, it is expected that food companies and manufacturers will have to maintain records for each batch of food or other product that they produce for a minimum of two years for non-perishable products and for a minimum of one year for perishable products," said Jay Jeffreys, the program manager for Wonderware's eCompliance Solutions.

The Bioterrorism Response Act requires food companies to provide the FDA with ingredient source data including immediate previous source, or IPS, and immediate subsequent recipient, or ISR, for every component used in the manufacturing process. In addition to U.S. food-processing companies, the Bioterrorism Response Act impacts international organizations that import or export food or other biological products to the U.S.

"It is possible to keep these records on paper and still meet the Act's requirements," said Yves Dufort, WSIG's general manager and director of services. "The challenge is that the companies must provide a large amount of specific, detailed information within several hours after an investigation begins. Electronic records greatly simplify and accelerate the data-gathering process."

The Wonderware Strategic Integration Group has closely researched the requirements associated with the Bioterrorism Response Act and designs eCompliance solutions that can help manufacturers improve operational performance, traceability and downtime tracking in addition to complying with the Bioterrorism Response Act. WSIG also advises companies on how to achieve regulatory compliance in other areas, such as FDA 21 CFR Part 11.

"Wonderware's eCompliance Solutions incorporate features that are specifically intended to address the Bioterrorism Response Act," Jeffreys said. "Our objective is to advise customers on what the Bioterrorism Response Act demands from them, and to provide the means to quickly and cost-effectively acquire the necessary information with easy-to-use and quickly deployable software solutions."

Wonderware eCompliance Solutions assists food-processing companies address the reporting requirements of the U.S. Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and the FDA regulations called for in the Act. The regulations affect more than 200,000 manufacturing, wholesale and packaging sites in the U.S. Larger firms have only months to comply. Wonderware eCompliance Solutions offer food-processing companies of any size a cost-effective tracking and tracing solution for the food manufacturing process. The solutions are easy to use, quick to deploy, and compliant with the Bioterrorism Response Act and its associated regulations. About the Wonderware Strategic Integration Group

Wonderware and ArchestrA are business units of Invensys Systems, Inc. Wonderware is the world's leading supplier of industrial automation and information software. For more information, visit www.wonderware.com or www.invensys.com/archestra.

Invensys is a global leader in production technology and solutions. The group helps customers improve productivity, performance and profitability using innovative services and technologies and a deep understanding of their industries and applications. For more information, visit www.invensys.com.