Department of Health and Human Services October 30, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is responding to the objection that we received from the Environmental Defense Fund, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Environmental Protection Network, Environmental Working Group, and Healthy Babies Bright Futures on the final rule that amended the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of 25 plasticizers that the petition identified as ortho-phthalates because these food additive uses have been permanently abandoned. After reviewing the objection, FDA has concluded that the objection does not provide a basis for modifying FDA's final rule amending the food additive regulations.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of a docket to obtain comment on the draft Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) Environmental Public Health Standards and VSP Construction Standards. Information about locating these documents can be found in the supporting materials section. VSP established these public health standards to target the control and prevention of environmentally associated illnesses and hazards on cruise ships. VSP inspectors use these standards to conduct operational public health inspections on cruise ships under the program's jurisdiction and to complete cruise ship construction activities at industry request.