[Federal Register: September 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 47845-47846]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01se99-120]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 98N-0359]


Program Priorities in the Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition; Request for Comments

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting comments
concerning the establishment of program priorities in the Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) for the year 2000. As part of
its annual planning, budgeting, and resource allocation process, CFSAN
is conducting a comprehensive review of its programs to set priorities
and establish work product expectations. This notice is being published
to give the public an opportunity to provide input into the priority-
setting process.

DATES: Written comments by September 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments concerning this document to the
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments should be
identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of
this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. Carrington, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-666), Food and Drug Administration,
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-5290, email
DCarring@bangate.fda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On January 25, 1999, CFSAN released a document entitled ``1999
CFSAN Program Priorities.'' The document, a copy of which is available
on CFSAN's web page (www.cfsan.fda.gov), constitutes the Center's
priority workplan for calendar year 1999. The workplan is based on
input we received at a stakeholders meeting on June 24 and 25, 1998
(see 63 FR 30242, June 3, 1998), as well as input generated internally.
Throughout the priority-setting process, we focused on one central
question: ``Where do we do the most good for consumers?''
    Approximately half of the 1999 workplan consists of activities
implementing the President's Food Safety Initiative (FSI). This is
consistent with the fact that currently, approximately half the
Center's resources are devoted to FSI work (i.e., all activities
related to pathogen reduction in food.) Outside of FSI, the workplan
identifies five program areas and four cross-cutting areas that need
emphasis. The five program areas are: (1) Premarket review of food
ingredients; (2) nutrition, health claims, and labeling; (3) dietary
supplements; (4) chemical and other contaminants; and (5) cosmetics.
    The four cross cutting areas are: (1) Enhancing the science base;
(2) Federal/State/local collaborations; (3) international; and (4)
human resources.
    Within most major program areas in the workplan, there are two
lists of activities. The first list of priorities in each section,
identified as the ``A'' list, are activities that CFSAN is committing
to complete by the end of 1999. Activities on the ``B'' list are those
the Center plans to make progress on during the year, but may not
complete. CFSAN has responsibility for many important ongoing
activities that are not identified in the workplan. The workplan
addresses primarily those initiatives representing something new or
different that needs to be addressed in that year. In addition, the
workplan does not address the myriad of unanticipated issues which
often require a substantial investment of CFSAN resources e.g., recent
concerns about potential dioxin-contamination in certain European
imports.

II. 2000 CFSAN Program Priorities

    FDA is requesting comments concerning the establishment of program
priorities in CFSAN for the year 2000. The input will be used to
develop CFSAN's 2000 workplan. The workplan will set forth the Center's
program priorities for a 9-month period, from January 1, 2000, through
September 30, 2000, the end of the fiscal year. Henceforth, to be
compatible with the Federal budgetary cycle, the priority-setting
process and development of annual workplans will be done on a fiscal
year basis. FDA intends to make this new workplan public in January
2000.
    The 2000 workplan will be organized in the same format as the 1999
workplan. Accordingly, comments are requested on specific program
activities for CFSAN to complete by September 30, 2000, in each of the
categories described in the document entitled ``1999 CFSAN Program
Priorities'' (i.e., ``A'' list activities.) Comments are also requested
on those additional activities that should be worked on during the 9-
month period, but not necessarily completed by the end of the fiscal
year (i.e., the ``B'' list activities.)
    To help focus comments, FDA requests that input regarding CFSAN
program priorities address the following questions:
    1. With respect to products under the jurisdiction of CFSAN, do you
believe there are issues that directly affect consumer safety that are
not being adequately addressed?
    2. Within the 10 program areas identified previously, what specific
activities do you believe should be top priorities for CFSAN and why?
    3. FDA needs to ensure that its research programs provide the
scientific information upon which regulatory decisions are made. In
CFSAN, what do you believe should be the highest priority areas for
conducting research?
    4. Because so much of our nation's food supply is either imported
or exported, what do you believe should be the highest priority
international activities? Please identify specific activities in your
answer.
    Interested persons may, on or before September 30, 1999, submit to
the Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments
regarding this notice. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted,
except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be
identified with
 the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.
Received comments may be seen in the office above between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday.

[[Page 47846]]

    Dated: August 25, 1999.
Margaret M. Dotzel,
Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 99-22678 Filed 8-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F