Department of Health and Human Services July 21, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of periodic surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Examination surveys conducted since 1960 by NCHS, have provided national estimates of health and nutritional status of the United States civilian non-institutionalized population. To add to the large amount of information collected for the purpose of describing the health of the population in the most recent survey, serum, urine and limited plasma samples were collected and stored for future research projects. Specimens are currently available from NHANES III (conducted from 1988-1994) and from NHANES 1999-2008. In 1999, NHANES became a continuous survey with data release every two years. Specimens are available from two year survey cycles after the demographic file has been released to the public. Participants in the survey that began in 1999 signed a separate consent document agreeing to specimen storage allowing their biologic specimens to be used for approved research projects.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that Ajinomoto Co., Inc., has filed a petition proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of N-[N-[3- (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propyl-[alpha]-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1- methyl ester, monohydrate (CAS Reg. No. 714229-20-6) for use as a non- nutritive sweetener in tabletop applications and powdered beverage mixes. Ajinomoto Co., Inc., also proposes that this additive be identified as advantame.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the termination and the recharter of the Risk Communication Advisory Committee (the committee). These actions are needed to implement the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) as amended by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, to change the committee from a discretionary to a statutory committee. This document also amends the agency's regulations which list advisory committees to reflect that the Risk Communication Advisory Committee has been rechartered and to revise the function statement.