Smithfield Romania announces the launching of the social responsibility program designed to support hospitals and medical institutions,” Solidarity with the Medical System”, two years after the debut of the first specific medical programs supported by the company. The new Smithfield Romania program assumes opening of a special funding line to be accessed by medical and public health institutions (regional, city, local hospitals), NGOs that have stipulated in the statute as object of activity: medical assistance or improvement of people’s living conditions, as well as public care centers for the elderly, whose daily activity involves the use of medical equipment.

"The funding line through which we will support hospitals in the regions where we operate becomes a priority in our social involvement strategy. As a result, for this first session, the program will have a budget of EUR 250,000”, said Goran Panici, general manager for Smithfield Romania.

Through the new social responsibility program ”Solidarity with the Medical System”, Smithfield Romania wants to give back to patients and their families the hope in a medical system that can provide patients with fast diagnosis, the necessary treatment to European standards and safe care. The company aims to offer, through partnerships with medical institutions, an extra chance to families in difficult situations.

"In this special period, it is more important than ever to be supportive and responsible, to show empathy and to be an example through what we do. That is why, through the program” Solidarity with the Medical System”  we decided to give a helping hand to medical institutions that need support in this regard”, said Cristina Bodea, sustainability director for Smithfield Romania.

To register a medical project that requires financial support, eligible organizations can apply on the platform developed specifically for this purpose: https://solidar-cu-sistemul-medical.ro/. The registration session is open until November 15, 2020, and project proposals will be evaluated internally, based on a single grid, which includes transparent eligibility criteria, presented on the company’s website.

So far, in the last two years, Smithfield Romania has supported medical projects carried out by  Louis Țurcanu Children’s Hospital from Timișoara, Donor Sanguis Banat Association, Cristian Șerban Foundation, the Rheumatism Patients Association from Banat, Dr. Karl Hospital from Jimbolia, Dr. Victor Babeș Association from Timișoara, Aurel Mogoșeanu Association for Anesthesia and Intensive Care, “Pius Brînzeu”  County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Timișoara, Timisoara Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital, Teodor Andrei Municipal Hospital from Lugoj, Save the Children Organization, Railways Clinical Hospital from Timișoara, the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases from Timișoara – Cardioimpex Association, “Dr. Victor Popescu” Military Emergency Clinical Hospital and Timiș Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, with a  total value of over Eur 330.0000.

Smithfield România announced it began resuming operations in its Freidorf, Timișoara facility.

The reopening follows a voluntary one week shut down to protect employee health and safety, which continues to be the company’s top priority. This decision was made in coordination with input from public health specialists and epidemiologists.

The company will responsibly resume operations in a phased approach, under strict sanitary guidelines.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Smithfield Romania has employed a number of measures to protect its employees, as recommended by Romanian and European authorities:

·         implementing strict social distancing measures;

·         reorganizing transport routes and arrival times to prevent parking congestions;

·         reorganizing the production areas and canteen schedules;

·         establishing the working regime in the home office system, where applicable;

·         additional hygiene of working spaces and means of transport;

·         placing new disinfection stations;

·         providing individual consumable and protective equipment to all employees;

·         all employees and collaborators must wear mask/facial protection, covering the nose and mouth throughout the entire business day, on the company premises and during transport;

·         daily monitoring of all employees’ temperature;

·         limiting access of third parties inside the company to the bare minimum;

·         daily employee briefings on prevention measures, through the screen system located in common spaces, flyers and posters, and organizing thematic training sessions, etc

During the shutdown, the company implemented additional protective measures, including rigorous cleaning and disinfection in all operational areas of the facility. These actions complement safety measures already in place and are always on top of the hygienic and sanitary environments maintained in the industry for food safety and quality purposes.

Furthermore, the company has continued to contract ARN nCov-RT-PCR testing resources in coordination with state-owned and private laboratories from Timis County to organize the re-testing of all facility employees. After conducting the COVID-19 testing and a new round of re-testing, employees who test negative will resume work.

Most employees who tested positive are asymptomatic and they remain under medical supervision.

The company emphasized that the danger of COVID-19 has not passed, and limiting the spread is everyone’s responsibility to protect their health, the health of their families and loved ones, and the health of the community where they live and work. 

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About Smithfield România

Starting with 2004, Smithfield România implemented an integrated business model, very successful, based on an over US 600 million investment. Our focus is to offer safe pork products, high quality, to satisfy the most demanding clients. All Smithfield Romania divisions have successfully implemented more management systems: Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015), Food Safety (ISO 22000:2005), also the International Standard (IFS).

Smithfield Romania has voluntarily and preventively decided to temporarily reduce the activity of Freidorf facility from Timișoara, for a period to be later determined.

The decision was taken voluntarily and preventively by the company, following coordination and input from epidemiologists and infectious diseases doctors and comes as a result of implementing a testing program of the operational staff for early detection of possible infections with the new coronavirus. This is an additional protective measure taken for employee’s health and safety. The scope is to effectively isolate cases of COVID-19 infection.

Employees will receive full salary payment during the shut-down. After conducting the COVID-19 testing and a new round of re-testing, employees who test negative will resume work.

Ever since the onset of the pandemic, Smithfield Romania has implemented, in coordination with input from public health authorities, an extensive prevention program and effective anti-COVID-19 disinfection measures for all productive areas.

The company emphasizes the importance of respecting individual protection measures, including after working hours, to ensure the effectiveness of the fight against this pandemic, encouraging both employees and the public to strictly follow the health authorities’ recommendations.

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About Smithfield România

Starting with 2004, Smithfield România implemented an integrated business model, very successful, based on an over US 600 million investment. Our focus is to offer safe pork products, high quality, to satisfy the most demanding clients. All Smithfield Romania divisions have successfully implemented more management systems: Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015), Food Safety (ISO 22000:2005), also the International Standard (IFS).

Comtim and Elit donated today, on the International Public Service Day, 400 servings of cooked pork specialties to the medical staff of ”Victor Babeș” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases from Timișoara.

Established in 2002 by the United Nations, the Public Service Day is intended to recognize the work of those serving the public in the medical or social fields and who are often at the forefront of responding to life-threatening situations.

Several Smithfield Romania volunteers distributed to the medical staff the 400 servings made of Comtim and Elit specialties and prepared with the support of our partners from Meat Busters Restaurant in Timișoara, a landmark of Romanian “urban food”, winners of the awards “Truck of the Year”, “Best Sandwich” and “Public’s Choice”.

"Right from the beginning of the situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Smithfield Romania has been in solidarity with the first-line medical staff in the community we belong to. On International Public Service Day, we want to show our gratitude for the daily effort of the medical and healthcare staff, involved in the public support service for those in need, by offering a protein-rich lunch, prepared with our Comtim and Elit pork products. Today, Smithfield Romania has demonstrated that the projects involved in Community support for the health system have become a priority for employees, not only for the company”, said Cristina Bodea, Sustainability Director, Smithfield Romania.

This action is part of Smithfield Romania’s support program for hospitals and medical institutions in Timişoara and Timiş County. In recent years, before the epidemiological situation generated by the COVID-19 virus, the company’s involvement included donations worth EUR 200,000, through which a section of Louis Ţurcanu Children’s Hospital in Timișoara was renovated, as well as financial support for repairs and procurement of medical equipment for several hospitals in the area.

Recently, Smithfield Romania made donations in cash and various medical equipment to several associations and medical institutions in Timiş County, amounting to RON 430,000. 

Through the “Food for Souls” program, Smithfield Romania has donated approximately 120,000 kg of meat since 2009 to date, offering about 475,000 servings to 33 beneficiary foundations and associations in Timiș and Arad Counties.

The action of Smithfield volunteers, on the occasion of the International Public Service Day was implemented in Timișoara with the support of PRAIS Foundation.

The company announced donations to Dr. Victor Babeș Association and "Aurel Mogoșeanu" Association

TIMIȘOARA, Ro., April 2, 2020 – As part of Smithfield Foods, Inc. global response to COVID-19, more than 4,300 employees of Smithfield Romania are proud to support the healthcare professionals who are at the forefront of the medical response.

Recently, Smithfield Romania made donations totaling RON 200,000 to Dr. Victor Babeș Association from Timișoara and "Aurel Mogoșeanu" Association for Anesthesia and Intensive Care from Timișoara. The company has also donated RON 80,000 worth of protective medical material to several medical institutions in Timis County.

"Our message is, together, we can overcome this critical time. It is essential to remain calm, be responsible, and help our community, while respecting the safety measures. Therefore, we’ll continue to support the efforts of healthcare professionals in our communities, by providing financial support or medical equipment for hospitals in Timișoara,” said Goran Panici, General Manager, Smithfield Romania.

These actions are part of Smithfield Romania’s priority initiative for hospitals and medical institutions from Timișoara and Timiș County, which last year also included: donations of EUR 200,000 to renovate a section of the new building of Louis Țurcanu Children Hospital from Timișoara; support for repairing Cristian Șerban Foundation medical center for children and youth; financial support for the purchase of necessary equipment for a mobile transfusion center serving the 17 hospitals from Timiș County; financial support provided to the Association of Patients with Rheumatism from Banat to purchase medical equipment; and financial support to Dr. Karl Diel Hospital from Jimbolia to purchase medical equipment.

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About Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Headquartered in Smithfield, Va. since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Our 40,000 U.S. employees are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” and have made us one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including many industry firsts, such as our ambitious commitment to cut our carbon impact by 25 percent by 2025. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our neighbors in need. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich®, and Nathan’s Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Smithfield Romania

Smithfield Romania has developed over time many sustainability and community support programs, among others: creator of “Food for Souls” program – to help families with social needs, sponsor of the project "World Water Monitoring Challenge" – a program for testing and monitoring water quality, with the help of pupils and students, and creator of the social responsibility program ”Smithfield Friends” – a program to encourage volunteerism among employees. The social responsibility programs of Smithfield Romania were recognized locally and internationally, company employees were recognized with many awards, among them: Smithfield Foods “Environmental and Sustainability Awards 2014”, "Diploma of Excellence" (PR Awards, 2014), and 2nd place in Romanian CSR Awards Galas, 2013, 2015 and 2016 editions, and the most recent award Smithfield Foods Sustainability Awards 2017 – for best practices in sustainability programs.

Smithfield România continues this year as well the tradition of offering backpacks and school supplies for students from Timis and Arad Counties.

Timișoara, September 11th, 2019. Smithfield România volunteers continues this fall the „Back to School” caravan, for the 13th consecutive year. As every year, kindergarten children and students from Timis and Arad counties were welcomed with school supplies for daily school activities, backpacks, pencil cases, and time schedules with a healthy lifestyle and balanced nutrition.

„Back to School” is a traditional program for Smithfield România, that aims to facilitate access to education and promotes school performance, for students from local communities.

“The program has demonstrated its values in the 13 years, by covering a larger number of beneficiaries every year.

Now, Smithfield România is proud to offer support for access to education for pre-school and school children from over 60 communities from Timis and Arad Counties. We wish to continue this tradition and to offer support for the learning process for as many children as possible”, said Cristina Bodea, Sustainability Director, Smithfield România.

Also, other 900 children of Smithfield România, Elit și Vericom, Maier Com employees, students from prep-class to 4th grade, received a backpack and school supplies.

The educational support program “Back to School”, initiated in 2007, included over 6.500 students from the communities where Smithfield România operates.

Media Coverage

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For more information:

Cristina Bodea

Sustainability Director Smithfield România

Tel: 0256 400 400 /E-mail: cbodea@smithfield.ro

Timișoara, September 12, 2018. For 3 days, 7,000 school children from 60 communities in Timiș and Arad Counties were visited by Smithfield Romania volunteers during the educational program ”Back to School”. School and pre-school children were especially pleased to receive school supplies and magnetic boards for kindergarten activities, backpacks, pencil cases and timetables with tips for a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.

”We strongly believe in the importance of this program, as demonstrated both by the number of school and pre-school children increasingly large with every edition, and the desire of our volunteers to participate in the ”Back to School” caravan. Through our actions at the beginning of each school year, we want to ensure access to education and encourage school performance of children in the community where we operate”, said Cristina Bodea, Sustainability Director, Smithfield Romania.

This year’s program included over 500 children of Smithfield Romania, Elit and Vericom employees, school and pre-school children form the preparatory to 4th grade, who received backpacks and school supplies, early this fall.

”As in the past 12 years, school and pre-schools children from Timiș County, and not only, set off on the path of knowledge, equipped with school supplies necessary to offer them support in education. Next to them are Smithfield Romania volunteers, who demonstrate by the power of example. The long-term partnership with Smithfield Romania comes in support of quality education for each school child”, said Mrs. Aura Codruța Danielescu, General Inspector, Timiș County School Inspectorate.

Over 46,000 school children from localities where Smithfield Romania operates were included in the educational support program “Back to School”, which started in 2007.

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Smithfield Romania has developed over time many sustainability and social responsibility programs being, among others: initiator of the program “Food for Souls”- to help families with social needs, sponsor of the project "World Water Monitoring Challenge", a water quality analysis and monitoring program, involving school and pre-school children, initiator of the social responsibility program called ”Smithfield Friends” - to encourage volunteering among employees. Smithfield’s social responsibility programs have bene locally and internationally recognized, company volunteers being awarded with various awards, among which: Smithfield Foods “Environmental and Sustainability Awards 2014”, "Diploma of Excellence" (PR Awards, 2014), and 2nd place and nominations at Romanian CSR Awards Galas, 2013, 2015 and 2016 edition and, more recently, the award: Smithfield Foods Sustainability Awards 2017 – for good practices in sustainability programs.

More details about company social responsibility programs can be found at:

http://www.smithfieldferme.ro/responsabilitate.html

http://www.smithfield.ro/ro/in-comunitate/

For more information:

Cristina Bodea

Sustainability Director

Smithfield Romania

Tel: 0256 400 400

Email: cbodea@smithfield.ro