A new 'mpXML' consortium has been formed to define a technical infrastructure supporting XML-based e-commerce within the meat and poultry industry. Meat and Poultry XML (mpXML) "brings together companies working to establish voluntary, public domain Extensible Markup Language (XML) data standards that can be used throughout the industry. The membership of mpXML is comprised of companies representing all sectors of the meat and poultry industry, including producers, packers, processors, wholesale distributors, brokers, retailers, purchases bulk quantities of meat or poultry, associations, government agencies, and technology and services providers. mpXML is in the process of forming the Work Groups that will develop the standard to support B2B e-commerce for meat and poultry industry. In its initial stages, the work will focus on electronic communication between producers and retailers and purchasers of bulk quantities of meat or poultry products. Membership is open to all meat and poultry industry suppliers, non-supplier companies, government agencies, and incorporated industry associations that provide service in the meat and poultry industry and wish to participate in and support the development of the mpXML standards."

mpXML founding members: Daymon Associates, Perdue Farms, Inc., Smithfield Foods, Inc., Sysco Corporation, Tyson Foods, Inc., U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Wegmans.

From the announcement:

Meat & Poultry Business-to-Business Data Standards Organization is proud to announce its formation by inviting all sectors of the supply chain to join in developing industry-wide e-commerce standards.

A not-for-profit corporation, mpXML represents a broad cross-section of organizations in the meat and poultry industry. These participants are working to develop and promote the use of open standards for meat and poultry e-commerce. Membership is open to all companies in the meat and poultry supply chain, as well as those who provide supplies and services to these organizations.

mpXML is focused on creating industry-specific standards and leveraging existing e-commerce initiatives. Once developed, these standards will be placed in the public domain to be voluntarily implemented by meat and poultry supply chain companies.

Open standards will help organizations in the meat and poultry industry reduce costs, increase productivity, and conduct business electronically with a greater number of customers.