COVID-19: New dates announced for CPhI trade shows

17 Mar 2020 --- Three new dates have been arranged for CPhI events originally scheduled in Japan, Southeast Asia and North America as COVID-19 continues to create chaos on events and planning. While the virus continues to take its toll on global industries, the new calendar provides companies the necessary time to gather its strength and simultaneously provides industry with certainty and clarity regarding future events.

The new dates are:

• CPhI South East Asia: July 1-3, 2020 at the Challenger 2, IMPACT center in Bangkok, Thailand.

• CPhI Japan: September 30-October 2, 2020 at the Intex Osaka Exhibition Center in Osaka, Japan.

• CPhI North America: September 9-11, 2020 at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre in Philadelphia, US.

At present, the outstanding CPhI events – CPhI Korea, CPhI Middle East & Africa, CPhI India and CPhI Worldwide – are set to maintain their original schedules. Notably, CPhI China will also take place in full operation in June. Meanwhile, the organizers are continuously monitoring global developments. Content and conference programs are also planned for each edition and updated agendas should be available soon. Additionally, the organizers are exploring bringing digital content options to their audiences.

“We wanted to be as proactive as possible in our approach, reacting quickly and listening to local governments and our audiences – who are our absolute priority. By announcing the three new dates together, we aim to provide more certainty to our exhibitors and visitors and better information to make more concrete travel and business arrangements for this year’s events,” the CPhI organizers commented in a statement.

In making this decision, the organization highlights it consulted the latest advice from global health bodies, governments and industry on the continually evolving best practice health considerations and ongoing travel restrictions. The organizers are furthermore working closely with local authorities to ensure the highest levels of safety for its customers and attendees.

To postpone or not to postpone?
Trade show postponements in the food and nutrition industry have been alerting our inboxes for the past month. Major events affected at present include Switzerland-based Vitafoods Europe and France’s CFIA, both rescheduled for new dates. Meanwhile, Natural Products Expo West, hosted in Anaheim, US, for the past two decades, has been canceled all together and the organizers have shifted focus toward Natural Products Expo East 2020, to be held in Philadelphia, US, in September. Emerging brands affected by the Expo West cancelation can find financial support to mitigate losses via a US$5 million fund.

Meanwhile, Nutrition 2020, the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), is currently proceeding as planned, to be held May 30-June 2, 2020 at the Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, US. While the ASN affirms that it is “carefully monitoring health and safety updates and recommendations,” it also notes that there are currently no federal restrictions in place to prevent meetings and travel within the US. Also, no US public health authority has advised canceling gatherings over the given time frame. Any changes to the status of Nutrition 2020 will be communicated immediately to all registered meeting attendees and participants, the ASN concludes.

By Anni Schleicher