DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-71,586

MARS PETCARE US, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF MARS INCORPORATED
VERNON, CALIFORNIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm under
Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are satisfied if
the following criteria are met:
I. The first criterion (set forth in Section 222(a)(1) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(1)) requires that a significant
number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm must
have become totally or partially separated or be threatened
with total or partial separation.

II. The second criterion (set forth in Section 222(a)(2) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(2)) may be satisfied if either:

(i)(I) there has been a shift by the workers' firm to a
foreign country in the production of articles or supply
of services like or directly competitive with those
produced/supplied by the workers' firm; or
(i)(II) there has been an acquisition from a foreign country
by the workers' firm of articles/services that are like
or directly competitive with those produced/supplied by
the workers' firm.

III. The third criterion requires that the shift/acquisition must
have contributed importantly to the workers' separation or
threat of separation. See Section 222(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(2)(B)(ii).

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on July 8, 2009 by the California TAA Coordinator on behalf
of workers of Mars Petcare US, Inc., a subsidiary of Mars
Incorporated, Vernon, California. The workers are engaged in the
production of wet pet food.
The investigation revealed that workers of the Vernon,
California facility who are engaged in employment related to the
production of wet pet food meet the criteria for certification.
Criterion I has been met because a significant portion of
the workers has been separated.
Criterion II has been satisfied because the workers' firm
has shifted the production of an article like or directly
competitive with wet pet food to a foreign country.
Criterion III has been met because the shift of production
of wet pet food from the Vernon, California facility to Mexico
contributed importantly to worker group separations at that
facility.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Mars Petcare US, Inc., a
subsidiary of Mars Incorporated, Vernon, California, who are
engaged in employment related to the production of wet pet food
meet the worker group certification criteria under Section 222(a)
of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223 of
the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Mars Petcare US, Inc., a subsidiary of Mars
Incorporated, Vernon, California, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after July 7, 2008,
through two years from the date of certification, and all
workers in the group threatened with total or partial
separation from employment on the date of certification
through two years from the date of certification, are eligible
to apply for adjustment assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 25th day of September, 2009


/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance