Draft Risk Assessment for the Public Health Impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell Eggs, and Egg Products, 73240-73242 [E8-28598]
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Federal Register
Vol. 73, No. 232
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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JOINT BOARD FOR THE
ENROLLMENT OF ACTUARIES
Meeting of the Advisory Committee;
Meeting
Joint Board for the Enrollment
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ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory
Committee meeting.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Executive Director of the
Joint Board for the Enrollment of
Actuaries gives notice of a meeting of
the Advisory Committee on Actuarial
Examinations (portions of which will be
open to the public) in Washington, DC
at the Office of Professional
Responsibility on January 8 and January
9, 2009.
DATES: Thursday, January 8, 2009, from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, January 9,
2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
Room 7718, 1111 Constitution Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patrick W. McDonough, Executive
Director of the Joint Board for the
Enrollment of Actuaries, 202–622–8225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
hereby given that the Advisory
Committee on Actuarial Examinations
will meet in Room 7718, 1111
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC on Thursday, January 8, 2009, from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, January 9,
2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to
discuss topics and questions that may
be recommended for inclusion on future
Joint Board examinations in actuarial
mathematics and methodology referred
to in 29 U.S.C. 1242(a)(1)(B) and to
review the November 2008 Pension
(EA–2A) Joint Board Examination in
order to make recommendations relative
thereto, including the minimum
acceptable pass score. Topics for
inclusion on the syllabus for the Joint
Board’s examination program for the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:52 Dec 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
May 2009 Basic (EA–1) Examination
and the May 2009 Pension (EA–2B)
Examination will be discussed.
A determination has been made as
required by section 10(d) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.,
that the portions of the meeting dealing
with the discussion of questions that
may appear on the Joint Board’s
examinations and the review of the
November 2008 Joint Board examination
fall within the exceptions to the open
meeting requirement set forth in 5
U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), and that the public
interest requires that such portions be
closed to public participation.
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with the discussion of the other topics
will commence at 1 p.m. on January 8
and will continue for as long as
necessary to complete the discussion,
but not beyond 3 p.m. Time permitting,
after the close of this discussion by
Committee members, interested persons
may make statements germane to this
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Director in writing prior to the meeting
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available and should submit the written
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Such comments will be limited to 10
minutes in length. All persons planning
to attend the public session should
notify the Executive Director in writing
to obtain building entry. Notifications of
intent to make an oral statement or to
attend must be faxed, no later than
December 31, 2008, to 202–622–8300,
Attn: Executive Director. Any interested
person also may file a written statement
for consideration by the Joint Board and
the Committee by sending it to the;
Internal Revenue Service, Joint Board
for the Enrollment of Actuaries, Attn:
Executive Director, SE:OPR, 1111
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20224.
Dated: November 17, 2008.
Patrick W. McDonough,
Executive Director, Joint Board for the
Enrollment of Actuaries.
[FR Doc. E8–28526 Filed 12–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS 2007–0001]
Draft Risk Assessment for the Public
Health Impact of Highly Pathogenic
Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell
Eggs, and Egg Products
Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of request for comment.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is requesting
public comment on a draft quantitative
food safety risk assessment for highly
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus
associated with the consumption of
poultry products, shell eggs, and egg
products. The purpose of this risk
assessment is to: (1) Estimate the public
health impact from human exposure to
HPAI virus through the consumption of
contaminated poultry products, shell
eggs, and egg products, and (2) evaluate
the relative effectiveness of strategies to
reduce or prevent exposure to HPAI
virus from the consumption of poultry
meat, shell eggs, and egg products.
DATES: Submit written comments by
February 2, 2009.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by
one of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the instructions.
* Mail, including floppy disks or CD–
ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered
items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Room 2534 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250.
All submissions received must
include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS–2007–0001.
All comments submitted in response
to this notice will be posted to Agency’s
Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations/2008_Notices_Index/.
Individuals who do not wish FSIS to
post their personal contact
information—mailing address, e-mail
address, telephone number—on the
Internet may leave this information off
of their comments. Comments will also
be available for public inspection in the
FSIS Docket Room at the address listed
E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM
02DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 2, 2008 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal
J. Golden, Office of Public Health
Science, FSIS, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Aerospace Center,
Washington, DC 20250–3700;
Telephone: (202) 690–6419; Fax: (202)
690–6337; Electronic mail:
neal.golden@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Avian influenza viruses are Influenza
A viruses of the family
Orthomyxoviridae and are endemic in
birds of many countries. Avian
influenza has been shown to infect
mammalian species including cats,
horses, pigs, seals, and whales. Avian
influenza varies in its ability to cause
disease in both humans and birds. Most
strains are classified as low pathogenic
avian influenza (LPAI) which causes
mild disease in infected domestic
poultry characterized by low morbidity
and low mortality rates. LPAI virus
rarely infects humans and does not pose
a significant human health threat. HPAI
virus, however, causes a more severe
clinical disease in infected poultry, with
high morbidity and mortality rates.
HPAI virus can occasionally infect
humans and other mammalian species.
For more information on avian
influenza viruses see https://
www.usda.gov/wps/portal/
usdahome?conten
tidonly=true&contentid=2005/11/
0511.xml.
The majority of known human cases
of HPAI are epidemiologically linked to
close contact with live or dead poultry,
resulting in occasional infection of
poultry workers, poultry cullers, and
poultry farmers (https://www.who.int/
foodsafety/micro/avian/en/). Possible
routes of infection include respiratory
inhalation of infective droplets or selfinoculation (e.g., by a human handler
touching mucous membranes or
conjunctiva after contact with avian
fecal contamination, avian respiratory
secretions, or avian body fluids), rather
than consumption of poultry products,
shell eggs, or egg products (https://
www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/biohaz/
biohaz_documents/1412.html).
There are no reported epidemiological
data linking the consumption of poultry
products, eggs, or egg products to
human illness from HPAI virus. Despite
this lack of evidence, the possibility of
consumption as an exposure route
remains a concern to food safety
experts. In Asia, two cases of HPAI
infection may be related to food
consumption of infected raw duck blood
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:52 Dec 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
products, although contact with live or
dead HPAI-infected poultry could not
be epidemiologically excluded.
In light of the recent HPAI poultry
and human outbreaks in Asia, Africa,
Europe, and the Middle East, and of the
lack of clear evidence of a risk from
exposure through consumption of
poultry products, shell eggs, and egg
products, a draft risk assessment was
developed by an Interagency Workgroup
formed from representatives of each of
these three agencies: FSIS, the
Department of Health and Human
Services’ (DHHS) Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and USDA’s
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS). The purpose of this
quantitative risk assessment is to: (1)
Estimate the public health impact from
human exposure to HPAI virus through
the consumption of contaminated
poultry products, shell eggs, and egg
products, and (2) evaluate the relative
effectiveness of strategies to reduce or
prevent exposure to HPAI virus from the
consumption of poultry products, shell
eggs, and egg products.
Other routes of exposure such as
inhalation, mucosal contact, wound
exposures by food preparers, and
consumer contact with contaminated
raw poultry and eggs, as well as farm
and processing occupational exposures,
are not addressed in this risk
assessment.
II. The Draft Risk Assessment
This draft risk assessment has
undergone an independent external peer
review consistent with the requirements
in OMB’s ‘‘Final Information Quality
Bulletin for Peer Review’’ and
substantial review by various
government agencies. This quantitative
risk assessment provides a sciencebased, analytical approach to collate
and incorporate available data into a
mathematical model. It provides risk
managers with a decision-support tool
to evaluate the effectiveness of
preparedness and current and future
interventions to reduce or prevent
foodborne illness. This risk assessment
can also be used to target risk
communication messages, identify and
prioritize research needs, and provide a
framework for coordinating efforts with
stakeholders.
Potential human exposure was
modeled separately for poultry products
and for shell eggs. Egg products were
qualitatively addressed. The draft
exposure models for poultry products
and for shell eggs estimated human
exposure from the HPAI contamination
of a single chicken, turkey, or hen flock
and considered the farm-to-fork
continuum including the farm,
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73241
transportation, slaughter, consumer
cooking, and consumer crosscontamination during preparation.
As part of an evaluation of the draft
risk assessment, FSIS is seeking
comments that can be used to improve:
(1) The assumptions made,
(2) The modeling techniques,
(3) The data used, and
(4) The clarity of the draft risk
assessment document.
It is FSIS’s intent to review and
evaluate all public comments and make
modifications to the assessment, as
appropriate. The draft risk assessment is
available electronically on the FSIS Web
site (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Risk_Assessments/index.asp).
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, in an effort to
ensure that the public and in particular
minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice,
FSIS will announce it on-line through
the FSIS Web page located at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
2008_Notices_Index/. FSIS also will
make copies of this Federal Register
publication available through the FSIS
Constituent Update, which is used to
provide information regarding FSIS
policies, procedures, regulations,
Federal Register notices, FSIS public
meetings, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest
to our constituents and stakeholders.
The Update is communicated via
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription
service consisting of industry, trade, and
farm groups, consumer interest groups,
allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals
who have requested to be included. The
Update also is available on the FSIS
Web page. Through Listserv and the
Web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader, more
diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail
subscription service which provides
automatic and customized access to
selected food safety news and
information. This service is available at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/.
Options range from recalls, export
information, regulations, directives, and
notices. Customers can add or delete
subscriptions themselves, and have the
option to password protect their
accounts.
E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM
02DEN1
73242
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 2, 2008 / Notices
Done at Washington, DC on November 25,
2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8–28598 Filed 12–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration
Advisory Committee Meeting
Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of advisory committee
meeting.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, this
constitutes notice of the upcoming
meeting of the Grain Inspection, Packers
and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
Grain Inspection Advisory Committee
(Advisory Committee). The Advisory
Committee meets twice annually to
advise the GIPSA Administrator on the
programs and services that GIPSA
delivers under the U.S. Grain Standards
Act. Recommendations by the Advisory
Committee help GIPSA better meet the
needs of its customers who operate in a
dynamic and changing marketplace.
DATES: December 16, 2008, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m.; and December 17, 2008, 8 a.m. to
1 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The Advisory Committee
meeting will take place at the Hilton
Kansas City Airport, 8801 NW., 112th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64153.
Requests to orally address the
Advisory Committee during the meeting
or written comments may be sent to:
Administrator, GIPSA, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., STOP 3601, Washington,
DC 20250–3601. Requests and
comments may also be faxed to (202)
690–2173.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terri L. Henry by phone at (202) 205–
8281 or by e-mail at
Terri.L.Henry@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the Advisory Committee is to
provide advice to the GIPSA
Administrator with respect to the
implementation of the U.S. Grain
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.).
Information about the Advisory
Committee is available on the GIPSA
Web site at https://www.gipsa.usda.gov.
Under the section, ‘‘I Want To * * *,’’
select ‘‘Learn about the Grain Inspection
Advisory Committee.’’
The agenda will include a review of
GIPSA’s 2008 Operations (domestic and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:52 Dec 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
export operations), an update of
GIPSA’s international programs, an
overview of GIPSA’s technical training
programs, a discussion on sorghum odor
line validation and future technology,
an update of GIPSA-sponsored research,
the use of contracts for export services
(pilot summary and next steps), a
discussion on GIPSA’s quality
management programs (managing the
official system in the future), and
GIPSA’s financial status.
For a copy of the agenda please
contact Terri L. Henry by phone at (202)
205–8281 or by e-mail at
Terri.L.Henry@usda.gov.
Public participation will be limited to
written statements unless permission is
received from the Committee
Chairperson to orally address the
Advisory Committee. The meeting will
be open to the public.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means of communication of
program information or related
accommodations should contact Terri L.
Henry at the telephone number listed
above.
Gary McBryde,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. E8–28532 Filed 12–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign–Trade Zones Board
(Docket T–5–2008)
tons of ground barite (HTSUS
2511.10.10) annually, primarily for the
U.S. market. The foreign component
that would be used in production
(representing approximately 95 percent
of total material inputs) is raw barite
(HTSUS 2511.10.50), dutiable at $1.25
per metric ton.
FTZ procedures could exempt
Excalibar from customs duty payments
on the foreign component used in
export production (less than 1 percent
of shipments). On domestic sales,
Excalibar would be able to choose the
duty rate that applies to the finished
product (duty–free) for the foreign input
noted above that has a higher duty rate.
The company may also realize certain
logistical/procedural savings as well as
savings on materials that become scrap/
waste during manufacturing.
Public comment is invited from
interested parties. Submissions (original
and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the
Board’s Executive Secretary at the
address listed below. The closing period
for their receipt is January 2, 2009. For
further information, contact Christopher
Kemp at
christopherlkemp@ita.doc.gov, or
(202) 482–0862.
A copy of the application will be
available for public inspection at the
Office of the Foreign–Trade Zones
Board’s Executive Secretary at the
address listed above.
Dated: November 20, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–28592 Filed 12–1–08; 8:45 am]
Foreign–Trade Zone 122 – Corpus
Christi, Texas
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
Application for Temporary/Interim
Manufacturing Authority
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Excalibar Minerals LLC
[Order No. 1584 ]
(Barite Milling)
Approval for Expanded Manufacturing
Authority, Foreign-Trade Subzone 42A,
Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas,
Inc., Orlando, FL (Power Generation
Turbine Components)
Corpus Christi, Texas
An application has been submitted to
the Executive Secretary of the Foreign–
Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the
Port of Corpus Christi Authority, grantee
of FTZ 122, requesting temporary/
interim manufacturing (T/IM) authority
on behalf of Excalibar Minerals LLC
(Excalibar) at the company’s barite
milling facility within FTZ 122 in
Corpus Christi, Texas. The application
was filed on November 20, 2008.
The Excalibar facility (14 employees)
is located at 3202 E. Navigation
Boulevard in Corpus Christi, Texas
(within Site 1). Under T/IM procedures,
Excalibar would produce up to 175,000
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
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Foreign-Trade Zones Board
Pursuant to its authority under the ForeignTrade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the ForeignTrade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the
following Order:
Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones Act
provides for ‘‘* * * the establishment
* * * of foreign-trade zones in ports of
entry of the United States, to expedite
and encourage foreign commerce, and
for other purposes,’’ and authorizes the
Foreign-Trade Zones Board to grant to
qualified corporations the privilege of
establishing foreign-trade zones in or
E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM
02DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73240-73242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28598]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS 2007-0001]
Draft Risk Assessment for the Public Health Impact of Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell Eggs, and Egg
Products
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is requesting
public comment on a draft quantitative food safety risk assessment for
highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus associated with the
consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products. The
purpose of this risk assessment is to: (1) Estimate the public health
impact from human exposure to HPAI virus through the consumption of
contaminated poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products, and (2)
evaluate the relative effectiveness of strategies to reduce or prevent
exposure to HPAI virus from the consumption of poultry meat, shell
eggs, and egg products.
DATES: Submit written comments by February 2, 2009.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and
follow the instructions.
* Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-
delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2534 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2007-0001.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted to
Agency's Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2008_
Notices_Index/. Individuals who do not wish FSIS to post their
personal contact information--mailing address, e-mail address,
telephone number--on the Internet may leave this information off of
their comments. Comments will also be available for public inspection
in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed
[[Page 73241]]
above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal J. Golden, Office of Public
Health Science, FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Aerospace Center,
Washington, DC 20250-3700; Telephone: (202) 690-6419; Fax: (202) 690-
6337; Electronic mail: neal.golden@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Avian influenza viruses are Influenza A viruses of the family
Orthomyxoviridae and are endemic in birds of many countries. Avian
influenza has been shown to infect mammalian species including cats,
horses, pigs, seals, and whales. Avian influenza varies in its ability
to cause disease in both humans and birds. Most strains are classified
as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) which causes mild disease in
infected domestic poultry characterized by low morbidity and low
mortality rates. LPAI virus rarely infects humans and does not pose a
significant human health threat. HPAI virus, however, causes a more
severe clinical disease in infected poultry, with high morbidity and
mortality rates. HPAI virus can occasionally infect humans and other
mammalian species. For more information on avian influenza viruses see
https://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/
usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/11/0511.xml.
The majority of known human cases of HPAI are epidemiologically
linked to close contact with live or dead poultry, resulting in
occasional infection of poultry workers, poultry cullers, and poultry
farmers (https://www.who.int/foodsafety/micro/avian/en/). Possible
routes of infection include respiratory inhalation of infective
droplets or self-inoculation (e.g., by a human handler touching mucous
membranes or conjunctiva after contact with avian fecal contamination,
avian respiratory secretions, or avian body fluids), rather than
consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, or egg products (https://
www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/biohaz/biohaz_documents/1412.html).
There are no reported epidemiological data linking the consumption
of poultry products, eggs, or egg products to human illness from HPAI
virus. Despite this lack of evidence, the possibility of consumption as
an exposure route remains a concern to food safety experts. In Asia,
two cases of HPAI infection may be related to food consumption of
infected raw duck blood products, although contact with live or dead
HPAI-infected poultry could not be epidemiologically excluded.
In light of the recent HPAI poultry and human outbreaks in Asia,
Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and of the lack of clear evidence
of a risk from exposure through consumption of poultry products, shell
eggs, and egg products, a draft risk assessment was developed by an
Interagency Workgroup formed from representatives of each of these
three agencies: FSIS, the Department of Health and Human Services'
(DHHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The purpose of this quantitative
risk assessment is to: (1) Estimate the public health impact from human
exposure to HPAI virus through the consumption of contaminated poultry
products, shell eggs, and egg products, and (2) evaluate the relative
effectiveness of strategies to reduce or prevent exposure to HPAI virus
from the consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products.
Other routes of exposure such as inhalation, mucosal contact, wound
exposures by food preparers, and consumer contact with contaminated raw
poultry and eggs, as well as farm and processing occupational
exposures, are not addressed in this risk assessment.
II. The Draft Risk Assessment
This draft risk assessment has undergone an independent external
peer review consistent with the requirements in OMB's ``Final
Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review'' and substantial review
by various government agencies. This quantitative risk assessment
provides a science-based, analytical approach to collate and
incorporate available data into a mathematical model. It provides risk
managers with a decision-support tool to evaluate the effectiveness of
preparedness and current and future interventions to reduce or prevent
foodborne illness. This risk assessment can also be used to target risk
communication messages, identify and prioritize research needs, and
provide a framework for coordinating efforts with stakeholders.
Potential human exposure was modeled separately for poultry
products and for shell eggs. Egg products were qualitatively addressed.
The draft exposure models for poultry products and for shell eggs
estimated human exposure from the HPAI contamination of a single
chicken, turkey, or hen flock and considered the farm-to-fork continuum
including the farm, transportation, slaughter, consumer cooking, and
consumer cross-contamination during preparation.
As part of an evaluation of the draft risk assessment, FSIS is
seeking comments that can be used to improve:
(1) The assumptions made,
(2) The modeling techniques,
(3) The data used, and
(4) The clarity of the draft risk assessment document.
It is FSIS's intent to review and evaluate all public comments and
make modifications to the assessment, as appropriate. The draft risk
assessment is available electronically on the FSIS Web site (https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp).
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations/2008_Notices_Index/. FSIS also will make copies of this
Federal Register publication available through the FSIS Constituent
Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies,
procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public
meetings, and other types of information that could affect or would be
of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The Update is
communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service
consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest
groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and
other individuals who have requested to be included. The Update also is
available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and the Web page, FSIS
is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse
audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news
and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls,
export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can
add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password
protect their accounts.
[[Page 73242]]
Done at Washington, DC on November 25, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-28598 Filed 12-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
