ISM 2022 – Feasibility of trade fairs still assured

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

the world's leading trade fair for confectionery and snacks ISM is in the starting blocks and will open its doors on 30 January 2022. We look forward to welcoming you all to the Cologne exhibition centre. Today we would like to inform you openly and transparently about the latest developments in Cologne and Germany, also against the background of the current pandemic situation.

The political parameters have a decisive influence on our business model and the feasibility of our events in these volatile and uncertain times. They provide the basis for deciding whether and in what form trade fairs can take place. According to the current Corona Protection Ordinance, trade fairs are still permitted as business events in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, regardless of the level of seven-day incidence and under 3G conditions (vaccinated, tested, recovered). Due to the highly dynamic nature of the current situation, we analyse and reassess developments on a daily basis. It is therefore important to us to inform you regularly about ongoing developments in order to give you the best possible planning security for your visit to the fair.

The registration levels for ISM and ProSweets Cologne are good. Our autumn fairs have already proven that trade fairs under 3G conditions are possible again, also on an international level. In current conversations, our exhibitors emphasise how important meeting you at eye level is for their own business and new business.

We, too, are looking forward to meeting you and our customers in person at ISM 2022. Together with you and the approximately 1,300 registered exhibitors from 65 countries, we offer a good starting position for the fair. We are also looking positively ahead to ProSweets Cologne, which is taking place at the same time. With an interim number of around 220 exhibitors from 20 countries, the international supplier fair for confectionery and snacks is very well positioned.

With our safety and hygiene concept #B-SAFE4business and the 3G access control CH3CK, we focus on the safety and health of our customers first.

The following measures contribute to maximum safety and trade fair normality:

• Wearing medical mouth-nose protection.
• As a general rule, face masks are mandatory. They can be removed at seating areas (e.g. at trade fair stands or food service locations).
• A minimum distance of 1.5 metres between each other must be observed; it is possible to fall short of this distance for a short time (e.g. when passing each other).
• Stand parties, get-togethers and similar events are currently not permitted.
• In addition to Covid status, an identity check based on a photo ID will be carried out at the entrance to the fair with immediate effect. It is therefore essential that you have your photo ID ready for admission.

In addition, with its new layout, which includes widening all aisles to at least 5.00 m, ISM is in an excellent position to ensure that distances are maintained at all times. Even though each event is planned individually, and the corresponding protection and hygiene concept is adapted to current requirements, Anuga in October 2021, for example, with over 4,600 exhibitors and 70,000 visitors from all over the world, confirmed the efficiency of this concept.

You could read in the media that new corona protection measures are being introduced in Germany. Non-tourist overnight stays in accommodation establishments are also possible under 3G conditions in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, to which Cologne belongs. This requires an official test certificate on arrival. Antigen tests are valid for 24 hours, PCR tests for 48 hours. Of course, this only applies to non-vaccinated or non-recovered persons. The policy has thus created the necessary framework for safe business. Restaurant visits in the city are now only possible for the vaccinated and recovered with an additional negative test or a proof of the 3rd vaccination (booster). Take-aways will still be available to all. Multilingual information about the Coronavirus in North Rhine-Westphalia | Land.NRW

For vaccinated and recovered persons there are currently no restrictions on entering Germany. However, unvaccinated trade fair participants from high-risk areas may enter Germany without quarantine obligations for up to five days with a negative test result (antigen test not older than 24 hours, PCR test not older than 48 hours). In this case, you must provide proof of your participation in the fair.

Further information on entry can be found here .

We know from many conversations with our exhibitors that they are looking forward to the personal exchange with you in January 2022! So that you can also exchange ideas with customers who will not be coming to Cologne, for example, due to extensive quarantine regulations, we have developed the digital platform ISM & ProSweets @home. Here you can present your innovations digitally, chat with customers via video or network with new business partners. And best of all, you can see which customers have visited your digital stand and what they have viewed. ISM & ProSweets @home will also be available beyond the fair until 30.04.2022. Details can be found here .

The entire ISM team is at your disposal for further information and questions.

Stay in touch with us and let's hope that new, stricter regulations will quickly lead to an easing of the current situation.

Kind regards from Cologne

Anne Schumacher (Vice President Food & Food Technology) and Sabine Schommer (Director)

Status: 28.01.2022