Interagency Risk Assessment of the Public Health Impact From Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in Some Ready-to-Eat Foods Sliced, Prepared, and/or Packaged in Retail Facilities; Request for Comments and for Scientific Data and Information; Reopening of the Comment Period, 43714 [E9-20641]

Agencies

• Food and Drug Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 165 (Thursday, August 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 43714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20641]



[[Page 43714]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0658]


Interagency Risk Assessment of the Public Health Impact From 
Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in Some Ready-to-Eat Foods Sliced, 
Prepared, and/or Packaged in Retail Facilities; Request for Comments 
and for Scientific Data and Information; Reopening of the Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening until 
September 29, 2009, the comment period for the notice published in the 
Federal Register of January 21, 2009 (74 FR 3617). In that document, 
FDA requested comments and scientific data and information that would 
assist in the conduct of a risk assessment of the public health impact 
of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat foods sliced, 
prepared, and/or packaged in retail facilities. The risk assessment is 
being conducted by FDA in collaboration with the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS). The agency is reopening the comment period 
because FDA and FSIS held a public meeting on June 23, 2009, to present 
the background, approach, scope, and data needs for the recently 
initiated interagency risk assessment (74 FR 27276; June 9, 2009) and 
this additional time will allow for public comment after this meeting.

DATES: Submit comments and scientific data and information by September 
29, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and scientific data and information 
to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. 
Submit electronic comments and scientific data and information to 
https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherri Dennis, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-005), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 
Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 301-436-2355, e-mail: 
sherri.dennis@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In the Federal Register of January 21, 2009 (74 FR 3617), FDA 
announced plans to conduct a risk assessment of the public health 
impact of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat foods 
sliced, prepared, and/or packaged in retail facilities. Comments were 
sought on data and information in the following areas: (1) 
Characteristics of ready-to-eat food markets in the United States; (2) 
characteristics of deli departments in groceries; (3) product 
contamination data; (4) factors that influence the growth of L. 
monocytogenes in cheeses, deli meats, and deli-type salads sold by 
retail facilities; (5) environmental contamination data; (6) factors 
that influence the environmental contamination and the cross-
contamination of food by L. monocytogenes in retail facilities; (7) 
identity and effectiveness of control measures or interventions 
intended to reduce levels and frequency of L. monocytogenes in the 
retail environment; and (8) any other data related to the occurrence, 
growth, and control of L. monocytogenes in retail facilities. 
Interested persons were given until April 21, 2009, to submit comments 
and scientific data and information.
    On June 23, 2009, FDA and FSIS held a public meeting to present the 
background, approach, scope, and data needs for this interagency risk 
assessment (74 FR 27276; June 9, 2009). For this reason, FDA is 
reopening the comment period until September 29, 2009, to allow 
additional time for public comment and submission of scientific data 
and information.

II. Comments

    Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management 
(see ADDRESSES) written or electronic comments, scientific data, and 
information regarding this document. Submit a single copy of electronic 
comments, scientific data, and information to https://www.regulations.gov or two paper copies of any mailed comments, 
scientific data, and information, except that individuals may submit 
one paper copy. Submissions are to be identified with the docket number 
found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments 
and scientific data and information may be seen in the Division of 
Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    Dated: August 21, 2009.
David Horowitz,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E9-20641 Filed 8-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S