Food Safety and Inspection Service August 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a document in the Federal Register on June 23, 2006, concerning Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). Correction: In the Federal Register of June 23, 2006, Volume 71, Number 121, on page 36056, the last paragraph of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section states that ``Members (of the committee) are required to attend all meetings in- person as this is necessary for the functioning of the advisory committee.'' As a point of clarification, the physical presence of members at subcommittee working groups and at plenary sessions is critical to the continued success of the work of NACMCF. However, we realize that unexpected events or extenuating circumstances (e.g., a personal or family emergency) may result in a member's inability to attend a meeting in-person, and that attendance through teleconferencing may be necessary. Since this has been a less than optimal means to contribute to the work of the committee, members should make efforts to attend all meetings to the extent that it is possible to do so. In-person attendance is expected but is not a requirement. The Agency is publishing this corrected notice and is accepting nominations 30 calendar days from the date of the publication of this corrected notice. FSIS is republishing in this notice the entire contents from the prior Federal Register notice published on June 23, 2006Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. The only changes in this correction notice are about the in-person attendance of NACMCF members at NACMCF meetings and the date for accepting nominations. This corrected notice announces that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the NACMCF. Nominations for membership are being sought from individuals with scientific expertise in the fields of epidemiology, food technology, microbiology (food, clinical, and predictive), risk assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics, and other related sciences. Persons from State and Federal governments, industry, consumer groups, and academia, as well as all other interested persons, are invited to submit nominations. Members who are not federal government employees will be appointed to serve as non-compensated special government employees (SGEs). SGEs will be subject to appropriate conflict of interest statutes and standards of ethical conduct. The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae must be limited to five one-sided pages and should include educational background, expertise, and a select list of publications. For submissions received that are more than five one-sided pages in length, only the first five pages will be considered.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are sponsoring a public meeting on September 6, 2006. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Beijing, China from September 18-22, 2006. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties with the opportunity to obtain background information on the 28th Session of the CCFFP and to address items on the agenda.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) are sponsoring a public meeting on September 7, 2006 to provide draft U.S. positions and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the 23rd Session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Arlington, VA, on October 16- 21, 2006. The Under Secretary and AMS recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to comment on the agenda items that will be debated at this forthcoming Session of the CCPFV.