3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) is a non-profit association representing equipment manufacturers, processors, regulatory sanitarians and other public health professionals. The organization once known simply as "3-A" is known by a history of serving the public health through the development of standards for the advancement of food sanitation and hygiene. The first 3-A Sanitary Standards were developed in the late 1920s through the cooperative efforts of the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS)*, the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF).A new era in the history of 3-A began in late 2002 with the incorporation of 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI). The five Founding Members include the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI), the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS)* the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), and the 3-A Sanitary Standards Symbol Administrative Council. Along with the Founding Members, the leadership of 3-A SSI includes the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the 3-A Steering Committee. The new 3-A SSI reflects many elements of the historic 3-A program (development of the 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices), and maintains many significant added responsibilities, including oversight of the 3-A Symbol used to identify equipment manufactured to 3-A Sanitary Standards. Under the direction of 3-A SSI, a new program was launched in 2003 to enhance the recognition of the 3-A Symbol with a new Third Party Verification (TPV) program.*IAFIS is now the Food Processing Suppliers Association
