This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

34637

Vol. 65, No. 105

Wednesday, May 31, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

Notice of Solicitation for Membership

to the National Agricultural Research,

Extension, Education, and Economics

Advisory Board.

AGENCY: Research, Education, and

Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation for membership.

SUMMARY: The United States Department

of Agriculture announces solicitation for

nominations to fill 10 vacancies on the

National Agricultural Research,

Extension, Education, and Economics

Advisory Board.

DATE: Deadline for Advisory Board

member nominations is June 23, 2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

802 of the Federal Agricultural

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

authorized the creation of the National

Agricultural Research, Extension,

Education, and Economics Advisory

Board. The Board is composed of 30

members, each representing a specific

category related to farming or ranching,

food production and processing, forestry

research, crop and animal science, landgrant institutions, food retailing and

marketing, rural economic development,

and natural resource and consumer

interest groups, among many others.

The Board was first appointed in

September 1996 and one-third of the 30

members were appointed for a l, 2, and

3 year term, respectively.

As a result of the staggered

appointments, the terms for 10 of the 30

members who represent 10 specific

categories will expire September 30,

2000. Nominations for a 3–year

appointment for all 10 of the vacant

categories are sought. Nominees will be

carefully reviewed for their broad

expertise, leadership, and relevancy to a

category. The 10 vacancies are:

A. National Farm Organization

C. Food Animal Commodity Producers

F. National Crop Commodity

Organizations

K. National Human Health Associations

P. Hispanic-serving Institutions

Q. American Colleges of Veterinary

Medicine

S. Transportation of Food and

Agricultural Products (Foreign and

domestic)

U. Food and Fiber Processors

Z. International Development/Private

Sector Organizations

CC. National Social Science

Associations

Nominations are being solicited from

organizations, associations, societies,

councils, federations, groups, and

companies that represent a wide variety

of food and agricultural interests.

Nominations for one individual who fits

several of the categories listed above, or

for more than one person who fits one

category will be accepted. Please

indicate the specific membership

category for each nominee. Each

nominee must fill out a form AD–755,

‘‘Advisory Committee Membership

Background Information’’ (which can be

obtained from the contact person below)

and will be vetted before selection. Send

nominatee’s name, resume, and their

completed AD–755 to the Office of the

Advisory Board, Research, Education,

and Economics, Room 344A Jamie L.

Whitten Building, Department of

Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250–

2255 no later than June 23, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah Hanfman, Executive Director,

National Agricultural Research,

Extension, Education, and Economics

Advisory Board, Research, Education,

and Economics Advisory Board Office,

Room 344A, Jamie L. Whitten Research,

Education, and Economics Advisory

Board Office, Room 344A, Jamie L.

Whitten Building, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, STOP: 2255, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–2255.

Telephone: 202–720–3684. Fax: 202–

720–6199, or e-mail: lshea@reeusda.gov.

Done at Washington, D.C. this 16th day of

May 2000.

I. Miley Gonzalez,

Under Secretary, Research, Education, and

Economics.

[FR Doc. 00–13550 Filed 5–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 00–005N]

International Standard-Setting

Activities

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public

of the sanitary and phytosanitary

standard-setting activities of the Codex

Alimentarius Commission (Codex), in

accordance with section 491 of the

Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as

amended, and the Uruguay Round

Agreements Act, Pub. L. 103–465, 108

Stat. 4809. It also provides a list of other

standard-setting activities of Codex,

including commodity standards,

guidelines, codes of practice, and

revised texts. This notice, which covers

the time periods from June 1, 1999, to

May 31, 2000, and June 1, 2000, to May

31, 2001, seeks comments on standards

currently under consideration and

recommendations for new standards.

ADDRESSES: Submit any written

comments to: FSIS Docket Clerk, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Food Safety

and Inspection Service, Room 102,

Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250–

3700. Please state that your comments

refer to Codex and, if your comments

relate to specific Codex committees,

please identify those committees in your

comments and submit a copy of your

comments to the delegate from that

particular committee. All comments

submitted will be available for public

inspection in the Docket Clerk’s Office

between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F.

Edward Scarbrough, Ph.D., United

States Manager for Codex, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Office of the

Undersecretary for Food Safety, Room

4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–3700; (202) 205–

7760. For information pertaining to

particular committees, the delegate of

that committee may be contacted. (A

complete list of U.S. delegates and

alternate delegates can be found in

Attachment 2 to this notice.) Documents

pertaining to Codex are accessible via

the World Wide Web at the following

34638 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

address: http://www.fao.org/waicent/

faoinfo/economic/esn/codex/. The U.S.

Codex Office also maintains a website at

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/Codex/

index.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The World Trade Organization (WTO)

was established on January 1, 1995, as

the common international institutional

framework for the conduct of trade

relations among its members in matters

related to the Uruguay Round Trade

Agreements. The WTO is the successor

organization to the General Agreement

on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). U.S.

membership in the WTO was approved

and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act

was signed into law by the President on

December 8, 1994. The Uruguay Round

Agreements became effective, with

respect to the United States, on January

1, 1995. Pursuant to section 491 of the

Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as

amended, the President is required to

designate an agency to be responsible

for informing the public of the sanitary

and phytosanitary (SPS) standardsetting activities of each international

standard-setting organization, Codex,

International Office of Epizootics, and

the International Plant Protection

Convention. The President, pursuant to

Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23,

1995 (60 FR 15845), designated the U.S.

Department of Agriculture as the agency

responsible for informing the public of

sanitary and phytosanitary standardsetting activities of each international

standard-setting organization. The

Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to

the Administrator, Food Safety and

Inspection Service (FSIS), the

responsibility to inform the public of

the SPS standard-setting activities of

Codex. The FSIS Administrator has, in

turn, assigned the responsibility for

informing the public of the SPS

standard-setting activities of Codex to

the U.S. Codex Office, FSIS.

Codex was created in 1962 by two

U.N. organizations, the Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the

World Health Organization (WHO).

Codex is the principal international

organization for encouraging fair

international trade in food and

protecting the health and economic

interests of consumers. Through

adoption of food standards, codes of

practice, and other guidelines

developed by its committees and by

promoting their adoption and

implementation by governments, Codex

seeks to ensure that the world’s food

supply is sound, wholesome, free from

adulteration, and correctly labeled. In

the United States, the United States

Department of Agriculture (USDA); the

Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS), and the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) manage and

carry out U.S. Codex activities.

As the agency responsible for

informing the public of the sanitary and

phytosanitary standard-setting activities

of Codex, FSIS publishes this notice in

the Federal Register annually.

Attachment 1 (Sanitary and

Phytosanitary Activities of Codex) sets

forth the following information:

1. The sanitary or phytosanitary

standards under consideration or

planned for consideration; and

2. For each sanitary or phytosanitary

standard specified:

a. A description of the consideration

or planned consideration of the

standard;

b. Whether the United States is

participating or plans to participate in

the consideration of the standard;

c. The agenda for United States

participation, if any; and

d. The agency responsible for

representing the United States with

respect to the standard.

To obtain copies of those standards

listed in Attachment 1 that are under

consideration by Codex, please contact

the Codex delegate or the U.S. Codex

Office. This notice also solicits public

comment on those standards that are

under consideration or planned for

consideration and on recommendations

for new standards. The delegate, in

conjunction with the responsible

agency, will take the comments received

into account in participating in the

consideration of the standards and in

proposing matters to be considered by

Codex.

The United States’ delegate will

facilitate public participation in the

United States Government’s activities

relating to Codex Alimentarius. The

United States’ delegate will maintain a

list of individuals, groups, and

organizations that have expressed an

interest in the activities of the Codex

committees and will disseminate

information regarding United States’

delegation activities to interested

parties. This information will include

the current status of each agenda item;

the United States Government’s position

or preliminary position on the agenda

items; and the time and place of

planning meetings and debriefing

meetings following Codex committee

sessions. U.S. Codex Alimentarius,

Room 4861, South Agriculture Building,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–3700, if you

would like to receive information about

specific committees.

The information provided in

Attachment 1 describes the status of

Codex standard-setting activities by the

Codex Committees for the time periods

from June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2000, and

June 1, 2000 to May 31, 2001. In

addition, the following attachments are

included:

Attachment 2 List of U.S. Codex

Officials (includes U.S. delegates

and alternate delegates)

Attachment 3 Timetable of Codex

Sessions (June 1999 through May

2001)

Attachment 4 Definitions for the

Purpose of Codex Alimentarius

Attachment 5

Part 1—Uniform Procedure for the

Elaboration of Codex Standards and

Related Texts,

Part 2—Uniform Accelerated

Procedure for the Elaboration of

Codex Standards and Related Texts

Attachment 6 Nature of Codex

Standards

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of

rulemaking and policy development is

important. Consequently, in an effort to

better ensure that minorities, women,

and persons with disabilities are aware

of this notice, FSIS will announce it and

provide copies of this Federal Register

publication in the FSIS Constituent

Update. FSIS provides a weekly FSIS

Constituent Update, which is

communicated via fax to over 300

organizations and individuals. In

addition, the update is available on line

through the FSIS web page, located at

http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is

used to provide information regarding

FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,

Federal Register notices, FSIS public

meetings, recalls, and any other types of

information that could affect or would

be of interest to our constituents/

stakeholders. The constituent fax list

consists of industry, trade, and farm

groups, consumer interest groups, allied

health professionals, scientific

professionals, and other individuals that

have requested to be included. Through

these various channels, FSIS is able to

provide information to a much broader,

more diverse audience. For more

information and to be added to the

constituent fax list, fax your request to

the Congressional and Public Affairs

Office, at (202) 720–5704.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34639

Done at Washington, DC on May 22, 2000.

F. Edward Scarbrough,

United States Manager for Codex.

Attachment 1: Sanitary and

Phytosanitary Activities of Codex,

Codex Alimentarius Commission and

Executive Committee

The Codex Alimentarius Commission

will hold its Twenty-fourth Session July

2–July 7, 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland.

At that time it will consider the

standards, codes of practice, and related

matters brought to its attention by the

general subject committees, commodity

committees, and member delegations.

Prior to the Commission meeting, the

Executive Committee will meet in June

2000 and June 2001. It is composed of

the chairperson, vice-chairpersons and

seven members elected from the

Commission, one from each of the

following geographic regions: Africa,

Asia, Europe, Latin America and the

Caribbean, Near East, North America,

and South-West Pacific.

The Executive Committee at its June

2000 Session will consider matters

arising from reports of Codex

Committees including review of

standards at step 5, requests for new

work, and other items brought to its

attention.

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Residues of

Veterinary Drugs in Foods

The Codex Committee on Residues of

Veterinary Drugs in Foods determines

priorities for the consideration of

residues of veterinary drugs in foods

and recommends Maximum Residue

Limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs. A

Codex Maximum Limit for Veterinary

Drugs (MRLVD) is the maximum

concentration of residue resulting from

the use of a veterinary drug (expressed

in mg/kg or ug/kg on a fresh weight

basis) that is adopted by the Codex

Alimentarius Commission to be

permitted or recognized as acceptable in

or on a food.

An MRLVD is based on the type and

amount of residue considered to be

without any toxicological hazard for

human health as expressed by the

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)*, or on

the basis of a temporary ADI that

utilizes an additional safety factor. An

MRLVD also takes into account other

relevant public health risks as well as

food technological aspects.

When establishing an MRLVD,

consideration is also given to residues

that occur in food of plant origin and/

or the environment. Furthermore, the

MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent

with good practices in the use of

veterinary drugs and to the extent that

practical analytical methods are

available.

*Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): An

estimate by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert

Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)

of the amount of a veterinary drug,

expressed on a body weight basis, that

can be ingested daily over a lifetime

without appreciable health risk

(standard man = 60 kg).

The following matters, contained in

ALINORM 01/31, will be considered by

the Codex Alimentarius Commission at

its 24th Session.

To be considered at Step 8:

Danofloxacin

Gentamicin

Imodocarb

Sarofloxacin

To be considered at Step 5/8:

Dihydrosteptomycin/Streptomycin

Doramectin

To be considered at Step 5:

Neomycin

Phoxim

Porcine Somatotropin

Thiamphenicol

Priority List of Veterinary Drugs

Requiring Evaluation or Reevaluation—

Substances for which a firm

commitment of data has been provided:

Cefuroxime sodium

Pirlimycin hydrochloride

The Committee is continuing work

on:

• Discussion paper on antimicrobial

resistance;

• Draft maximum residue limits for

veterinary drugs;

• Risk Analysis in the CCRVDF;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines on

Residues at Injection Sites;

• Guidelines on Control of Veterinary

Drug Residues in Milk and Milk

Products; and

• Methods of Analysis and Sampling

Issues.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Food Additives and Contaminants

The Codex Committee on Food

Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC)

(a) establishes or endorses permitted

maximum or guideline levels for

individual food additives,

contaminants, and naturally occurring

toxicants in food and animal feed; (b)

prepares priority lists of food additives

and contaminants for toxicological

evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO

Expert Committee on Food Additives

(JECFA); (c) recommends specifications

of identity and purity for food additives

for adoption by the Commission; (d)

considers methods of analysis for food

additives and contaminants; and (e)

considers and elaborates standards and

codes for related subjects such as

labeling of food additives when sold as

such and food irradiation. The 32nd

Session of CCFAC met on March 20–24,

2000, in Beijing, the Peoples Republic of

China. The following matters contained

in ALINORM 01/12 are under

consideration by the Commission and

CCFAC.

Risk Analysis

The Discussion Paper entitled

‘‘Application of Risk Analysis

Principles to the Work of the Codex

Committee on Food Additives and

Contaminants (CCFAC) and the Joint

FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food

Additives (JECFA)’’ will be revised for

circulation and consideration at the next

session. The Codex Secretariat will

report on this activity to the 15th

Session of the Codex Committee on

General Principles and the 47th Session

of the Codex Executive Committee (June

2000).

Food Additives

• Annex A (Guidelines for the

Estimation of Appropriate Levels of Use

of Food Additives) to the Preamble of

the General Standard for Food Additives

(GSFA) for adoption at Step 8;

• Addition of provisions for the use

of 15 additives to Table 1 and Table 2

of the Codex General Standard for Food

Additives for adoption at Step 8 and

Step 5/8;

• The Committee agreed to circulate

for comment the inclusion of the

following additives in Table 3

(Additives Permitted for Use in Food in

General, Unless otherwise Specified, in

Accordance with GMP) of the Draft

GSFA at Step 3 of the accelerated

procedure subject to confirmation by the

47th Session of the Codex Executive

Committee: Processed Eucheuma

seaweed, enzymatically hydrolyzed

sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,

gamma cyclodextrin, polyglycitol syrup,

erythritol, curdlan, and sodium sulfate;

• The Committee has requested the

Codex Secretariat to prepare a

discussion paper on the relationship

between Codex Commodity Standards

and the further development of the

GSFA; and

• The 32nd CCFAC agreed to

reestablish its ad hoc working group on

the GSFA for its 33rd Session under the

chairmanship of the U.S.

International Numbering System

• The Committee agreed to forward

the proposed addition of 4-

34640 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

hexylresorcinol (INS 586) for use as an

antioxidant or color retention agent) and

pectins (INS 440) to include its use as

an emulsifier to the 24th CAC for final

adoption of the accelerated procedure.

The Committee also agreed to forward

the following proposed revisions

(italicized text) to the INS system at Step

3 by the accelerated procedure subject

to the approval of the Commission:

• acesulfame potassium (INS 950)

sweetener and flavor enhancer;

• enzymatically hydrolyzed sodium

carboxymethyl cellulose (INS 469) as

thickener and stabilizer;

• monosodium succinate (INS 364i)

as acidity regulator and flavor enhancer;

• disodium succinate (INS 364ii) as

acidity regulator and flavor enhancer;

• curdlan (INS 424) as thickener and

stabilizer;

• erythritol (INS 968) as sweetener,

flavor enhancer, and humectant;

• sodium L-aspartate (INS 638) as

flavor enhancer;

• DL-alanine (INS 639) as flavor

enhancer;

• manasco rubin (INS 130) as color;

• gardenia yellow (INS 164) as color;

• gamma-cyclodextrin (INS 458) as

stabilizer and binder; and

• polyglycitol syrup (INS 964) as

sweetener.

• The Committee also agreed to

request comments on the technological

functions and functional classes/

subclasses in the framework of the INS

system, the GSFA, and the Codex

General Standard for the Labelling of

Prepackaged Foods.

Draft Revisions to the Codex General

Standard for Irradiated Foods

• The 32nd CCFAC agreed to ask

WHO, IAEA and FAO to further revise

the Codex General Standard for

Irradiated Foods for circulation,

comment and further consideration by

the 33rd CCFAC; and

• The Committee also agreed to

request the Codex Executive Committee

to consider as new work the revision of

the companion Codex Recommended

International Code of Practice for the

Operation of Irradiation Facilities Used

for the Treatment of Foods (CAC/RCP

19–1979).

Food Additive Specifications

• The 32nd CCFAC agreed to forward

specifications for 34 food additives and

58 flavoring agents, and specifications

for 2 food additives after editorial

changes including technical revisions to

the 24th CAC for adoption as Codex

Advisory Specifications; and

• The 32nd CCFAC agreed to

reestablish its ad hoc working group for

food additive specifications for its 33rd

Session under the chairmanship of the

U.S.

The Committee is continuing work on

a discussion paper on processing aids.

The 32nd CCFAC agreed to

discontinue further work on its

discussion paper on the use of colors in

food.

Contaminants

The Committee agreed to forward the

following for final adoption:

• Draft Maximum Level of 50ug/kg in

apple juice and apple juice ingredient in

ready made soft drinks for adoption at

Step 8; and

• Draft Maximum Levels for Lead

(except for fish, crustaceans, bivalve

mollusks and fruit juices) at Step 8.

The Committee is continuing work

on:

• Methodology and Principles for

Exposure Assessment in the Codex

General Standard for Contaminants and

Toxins in Food;

• Draft Maximum Level for Aflatoxin

M1 in Milk at Step 6;

• Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for

Ochratoxin A in Cereals and Cereal

Products at Step 3;

• The Committee discussed two draft

codes of practice for the prevention of

mycotoxin contamination of cereals

(ochratoxin A, zearalenone) and a

position paper on fumonisins. Given the

similarity of the various draft Codes of

Practice, the Committee agreed that a

General Code of Practice for the

prevention of mycotoxin contamination

in cereals with annexes containing

guidance on practices to prevent cereal

grain contamination by specific

mycotoxins. Currently, the General

Code of Practice is expected to contain

annexes for ochratoxin A, zearalenone

and fumonisins;

• Draft Code of Practice for Source

Directed Measures to Reduce

Contamination of Foodstuffs (paper to

be revised for consideration at Step 3 by

the 32nd CCFAC);

• Draft Maximum Levels for Lead for

fish, crustaceans, bivalve mollusks and

fruit juices to be circulated for comment

and consideration at Step 6 by the 33rd

CCFAC);

• Draft Maximum Levels for

Cadmium for Cereals, Pulses and

Legumes to be circulated for comment at

Step 6. (Proposed draft maximum levels

for Cadmium in other foods to be

circulated at Step 3);

• Discussion Paper on Dioxins (Paper

to be revised for circulation and

comment by the 33rd CCFAC); and

• The 32nd CCFAC agreed to

reestablish the ad hoc working group for

contaminants for its 33rd Session under

the chairmanship of Denmark.

Other Issues

• Position Paper on Chloropropanols:

The Committee agreed that a discussion

paper should be prepared to address the

levels of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol

and 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol in foods

subject to approval by the 47th CCEXEC.

The 33rd Session of the CCFAC is

tentatively scheduled for March 12–16,

2001 in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Responsible AGENCY: HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues

The Codex Committee on Pesticide

Residues recommends to the Codex

Alimentarius Commission

establishment of maximum limits for

pesticide residues for specific food

items or in groups of food. A Codex

Maximum Residue Limit for Pesticide

(MRLP) is the maximum concentration

of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/

kg), recommended by the Codex

Alimentarius Commission to be legally

permitted in or on food commodities

and animal feeds. Foods derived from

commodities that comply with the

respective MRLPs are intended to be

toxicologically acceptable, that is,

consideration of the various dietary

residue intake estimates and

determinations both at the national and

international level in comparison with

the ADI*, should indicate that foods

complying with Codex MRLPs are safe

for human consumption.

Codex MRLPs are primarily intended

to apply in international trade and are

derived from reviews conducted by the

Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues

(JMPR) following:

(a) Review of residue data from

supervised trials and supervised uses

including those reflecting national good

agricultural practices (GAP). Data from

supervised trials conducted at the

highest nationally recommended,

authorized, or registered uses are

included in the review. In order to

accommodate variations in national pest

control requirements, Codex MRLPs

take into account the higher levels

shown to arise in such supervised trials,

which are considered to represent

effective pest control practices; and

(b) Toxicological assessment of the

pesticide and its residue.

The following items will have been

considered by 32nd Session of the

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues

at the Hague, the Netherlands, May 1–

8, 2000. The final results will be in

ALINORM 01/24.

• Consideration of Intake of Pesticide

Residues:

• Acute Dietary Exposure

Assessment;

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34641

• Report on Pesticide Residue Intake

Studies; and

• Report on the Revision of Regional

Diets and Information on Processing

• Consideration of Draft and

Proposed Draft Residue Limits in Foods

and Feeds at Steps 7 and 4:

• Harmonization of MRL setting for

compounds used both as pesticides and

as veterinary drugs;

• Which uses to support when

chronic dietary intake estimate(s)

exceed the ADI;

• Feasibility of establishing MRLs for

genetically modified crops and for

metabolite residues;

• Feasibility of establishing specific

MRLs for cereal-based foods and infant

formula; and

• Need for EMRL for camphechlor in

fish.

• Recommendations for Methods of

Analysis and Sampling;

• Establishment of Codex Priority

Lists of Pesticides; and

• Problems Relative to Pesticide

Residues in Food in Developing

Countries.

* Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of a

chemical is the daily intake which, during an

entire lifetime, appears to be without

appreciable risk to the health of the

consumer on the basis of all the known facts

at the time of the evaluation of the chemical

by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide

Residues. It is expressed in milligrams of the

chemical per kilogram of body weight.

Responsible Agency: EPA; USDA/

ARS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Methods of

Analysis and Sampling

The Codex Committee on Methods of

Analysis and Sampling:

(a) Defines the criteria appropriate to

Codex Methods of Analysis and

Sampling;

(b) Serves as a coordinating body for

Codex with other international groups

working in methods of analysis and

sampling and quality assurance systems

for laboratories;

(c) Specifies, on the basis of final

recommendations submitted to it by the

other bodies referred to in (b) above,

Reference Methods of Analysis and

Sampling appropriate to Codex

Standards which are generally

applicable to a number of foods;

(d) Considers, amends, if necessary,

and endorses, as appropriate, methods

of analysis and sampling proposed by

Codex (Commodity) Committees, except

that methods of analysis and sampling

for residues of pesticides or veterinary

drugs in food, the assessment of

microbiological quality and safety in

food, and the assessment of

specifications for food additives do not

fall within the terms of reference of this

Committee;

(e) Elaborates sampling plans and

procedures, as may be required;

(f) Considers specific sampling and

analysis problems submitted to it by the

Commission or any of its Committees;

and

(g) Defines procedures, protocols,

guidelines or related texts for the

assessment of food laboratory

proficiency, as well as quality assurance

systems for laboratories.

The Committee will hold its 23rd

Session in Budapest, Hungary, February

26–March 2, 2001. At that time the

committee will consider the following:

• Principles for the Establishment of

Codex Methods of Analysis and

Sampling;

• Relations between Commodity

Committees and General Committees;

• Proposed Draft General Guidelines

on Sampling;

• Criteria for Evaluating Acceptable

Methods of Analysis for Codex

Purposes;

• Harmonization of Analytical

Terminology ‘‘Measurement Limits’’;

• Harmonization of Reporting of Test

Results Corrected for Recovery Factors;

• Measurement Uncertainty;

• In-House Method Validation; and

• Endorsement of Methods of

Analysis and Sampling Provisions in

Codex Standards.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/AMS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Food Import and

Export Inspection and Certification

Systems

The Codex Committee on Food Import

and Export Inspection and Certification

Systems is charged with developing

principles and guidelines for food

import and export inspection and

certification systems to protect

consumers and to facilitate trade.

Additionally, the Committee develops

principles and guidelines for the

application of measures by competent

authorities to provide assurance that

foods comply with essential

requirements, especially statutory

health requirements. This encompasses

work on: Equivalence of food inspection

systems including equivalence

agreements, processes and procedures to

ensure that sanitary measures are

implemented, and the determination of

the judgement of equivalence;

guidelines on food import control

systems; and guidelines on food product

certification and information exchange.

The development of guidelines for the

appropriate utilization of quality

assurance systems to ensure that

foodstuffs conform to requirements and

to facilitate trade also are included in

the Committee’s terms of reference.

The Committee held its 8th Session at

Adelaide, Australia, on February 21–25,

2000. The following matters will be

considered by the Codex Alimentarius

Commission at its 24th Session. The

relevant document is ALINORM 01/30.

To be considered at Step 5:

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for

Generic Official Certificate Formats and

the Production and Issuance of

Certificates.

The Committee is continuing work

on:

• Proposed Draft Guidelines/

Recommendations for Food Import

Control Systems;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for the

Utilization and Promotion of Quality

Assurance Systems; and

• Discussion Paper on the adequacy

of existing Codex texts in food

emergency control situations (including

an existing CCFICS developed set of

Guidelines for the Exchange of

Information in Food Control Emergency

Situations).

New Work:

• Proposed Draft Guidelines on the

Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary

Measures Associated with Food

Inspection and Certification Systems;

and

• Proposed draft Guidelines on the

Judgement of Equivalence of Technical

Regulations Associated with Food

Import and Export Inspection and

Certification Systems.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on General Principles

The Codex Committee on General

Principles deals with procedure and

general matters as are referred to it by

the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The 15th Session of the Committee met

in Paris on April 10–14, 2000. The

relevant ALINORM is 01/33.

To be considered by the Commission:

• Adoption of an amendment to Rule

VI.2 to the Rules of Procedure to clarify

members’ rights with respect to voting;

and

• Practical measures intended to

facilitate consensus.

The Committee continues to work on:

• Working Principles for Risk

Analysis;

• Food Safety Objectives;

• Review of the Statement of

Principles on the Role of Science and

the Extent to which Other Factors are

taken into account: Role of science and

other factors in relation to risk analysis;

• Composition of the Executive

Committee and related matters;

34642 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

• Revision of the Code of Ethics for

International Trade in Foods; and

• Consumer Participation in Codex

Work and related matters.

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Food Labeling

The Codex Committee on Food

Labeling is responsible for drafting

provisions on labeling issues assigned

by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The Committee will have held its 28th

Session in Ottawa on May 9–12, 2000.

The following items will have been

discussed. The documents will be in

ALINORM 01/22.

Considered at Step 7:

• Draft Guidelines for the Production,

Processing, Labeling and Marketing of

Organically Produced Foods (Animal

Production);

• Proposed Draft Amendment to the

General Standard for the Labeling of

Prepackaged Foods (Class Names) (milk

protein/milk protein products);

• Proposed Draft Recommendations

for the Labeling of Foods Obtained

Through Biotechnology (Definitions);

and

• Draft Amendment to the Standard

for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks (Fish

Fingers), Fish Portions and Fish Fillets,

Breaded and in Batter (Declaration of

Fish Core).

Considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Recommendations

for the Use of Health Claims;

• Proposed Draft Recommendations

for the Labeling of Foods Obtained

Through Biotechnology (Mandatory

Labeling);

• Proposed Draft Recommendations

to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labeling;

and

• Proposed Draft Recommendations

for the Use of the Term ‘‘Vegetarian’’.

Also considered:

• Discussion paper on Quantitative

Ingredient Labeling.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene

The Codex Committee on Food

Hygiene has three primary

responsibilities. First, to draft basic

provisions on food hygiene applicable

to all food. These provisions normally

take the form of Codes of Hygienic

Practice for a specific commodity (e.g.

bottled water) or group of commodities

(e.g., milk and milk products). Second,

to consider, amend if necessary, and

endorse food hygiene provisions that are

incorporated into specific Codex

commodity standards by the Codex

commodity committees. These

provisions normally contain generic

wording referencing the Recommended

Code of Hygienic Practice: General

Principles for Food Hygiene (ref: CAC/

RCP 1–1969, Rev. 3–1997) and the

Principles for the Establishment and

Application of Microbiological Criteria

for Foods (CAC/GL 21–1997) but may

also include other provisions. Third, to

provide general guidance to the

Commission on matters relating to food

hygiene. This often takes the form of

providing general guidance documents

such as the Draft Principles and

Guidelines for the Conduct of

Microbiological Risk Assessment and

Draft Proposed Principles and

Guidelines for the Conduct of

Microbiological Risk Management. The

following items, found in ALINORM 01/

13, will be considered by the Codex

Alimentarius Commission at its 24th

Session in June 2001:

To be considered at Step 8:

• Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for

Bottled/Packaged Drinking Waters

(other than natural Mineral Water); and

• Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for

the Transport of Food in Bulk and SemiPacked Food.

Codex texts to be considered by the

Committee at its 33rd Session to be held

October 23–27, 2000 are the following:

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic

Practice for Milk and Milk Products;

• Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic

Practice for the Primary Production,

Harvesting and Packaging of Fresh

Fruits and Vegetables;

• Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic

Practice for Pre-cut Vegetable Products

Ready for Human Consumption;

• Proposed Draft Principles and

Guidelines for the Conduct of

Microbiological Risk Management;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for the

Control of Listeria monocytogenes in

Foods;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for the

Hygienic Reuse of Processing Water in

Food Plants; and

• Discussion on Risk Assessment of

Certain Pathogens in Specific

Commodities.

Other committee work:

• Discussion paper on the

Application of HACCP in Small and/or

Less Developed Businesses;

• Discussion paper on Priorities for

the Revision of the Codes of Hygienic

Practice;

• Discussion paper on Antibiotic

Resistance in Bacteria in Food;

• Discussion paper on Guidelines for

Validation of Food Hygienic Control

Measures; and

• Discussion paper on Proposed

Guidelines for Evaluating the Presence

of Objectionable Matter

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and

Vegetables

The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits

and Vegetables is responsible for

elaborating worldwide standards and

codes of practice for fresh fruits and

vegetables. The Committee will hold its

Ninth Session in Mexico City, Mexico,

on October 9–13, 2000 and consider the

following:

To be considered at Step 7:

• Draft Standard for Grapefruit,

Pummelos, Limes (sizing provisions);

• Draft Standard for Tisquisque

(White and Lilac);

• Draft Standard for Yellow

Pitahayas;

• Draft Standard for Papaya;

• Draft Standard for Asparagus;

• Draft Standard for Oranges; and

• Draft Standard for Cape Gooseberry;

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Standard for

Cassava;

• Proposed Draft Standard for Apples;

• Proposed Draft Standard for

Tomatoes;

• Proposed Draft Standard for Table

Grapes;

• Discussion paper on size tolerances,

including sizing provisions of the Draft

Standards for Grapefruits, Limes,

Pummelos, and Oranges;

• Code of Practice for the Quality

Inspection and Certification of Fresh

Fruits and Vegetables;

• Inspection Site Requisites (Annex II

of the Draft Code of Practice for the

Quality Inspection and Certification of

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables);

• Discussion paper on definitions of

terms; and

• Brix levels in Codex Standard for

Pineapples;

Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Nutrition and

Foods for Special Dietary Uses

The Codex Committee on Nutrition

and Foods for Special Dietary Uses is

responsible for studying nutritional

problems referred by the Codex

Alimentarius Commission. The

Committee also drafts provisions on

nutritional aspects for all foods and

develops guidelines, general principles,

and standards for foods for special

dietary uses. The Committee holds its

22nd Session in Berlin, Germany, on

June 19–23, 2000. At that Session, it

will consider the following:

To be considered at Step 7:

• Draft Table of Conditions for

Nutrient Contents (Part B), (Guidelines

for Nutrient Claims) Fibre and Serving

Size; and

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34643

• Proposed Draft Revised Standards

for Gluten-Free Foods.

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for

Infants and Young Children;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Infant Formula;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements and

Discussion Paper to Facilitate

Consideration of the Draft Guidelines;

and

• Proposed Draft Revision of the

Advisory List(s) of Mineral Salts and

Vitamin Compounds for the Use in

Foods for Infants and Children.

Other work:

• Discussion Paper on Criteria for

Scientific Evidence Relative to Health

Claims;

• Discussion Paper on Provisions of

Fortification on Iodine, Iron and

Vitamin A in the Guidelines of

Nutrition Claims;

• Discussion Paper on Review of

Provisions for Vitamins and Minerals in

Codex Standards: Vitamins and

Minerals in Foods for Special Medical

Purposes;

• Discussion Paper on Proposal to

Design the Basis for Derivation of

Energy Conversion Factors in the Codex

Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling;

• Discussion Paper on the

Consideration of the Use of the

Recommendations of the FAO/WHO

Expert Consultation on Food

Consumption and Exposure Assessment

of Chemicals; and

• Consideration of the Need to

Review the General Principles for the

Addition of Essential Nutrients to

Foods.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery

Products

The Fish and Fishery Products

Committee is responsible for elaborating

standards for fresh and frozen fish,

crustaceans and mollusks. The 24th

Session of the Committee will be held

on June 5–9, 2000, in Alesund, Norway.

At that Session, the following items will

be discussed:

To be considered at Step 7:

• Draft Standard for Dried Anchovies;

and

• Draft Standard for Crackers from

Marine and Freshwater Fish, Crustacean

and Molluscan Shellfish.

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Amendment to the

Standard for Canned Sardines and

Sardine-Type Products (Inclusion of an

additional species);

• Proposed Draft Standard for Salted

Atlantic Herring and Salted Sprats;

• Proposed Draft Code of Practice for

Fish and Fishery Products;

• Model Certificate for Fish and

Fishery Products;

• Proposed Draft Standard for

Smoked Fish; and

• Proposed Draft Standard for

Molluscan Shellfish.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA,

USDC/NOAA/NMFS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Milk and Milk

Products

The Codex Committee on Milk and

Milk Products is responsible for

establishing international codes and

standards for milk and milk products.

The following will be considered at the

24th Session of the Codex Alimentarius

Commission in June 2001. The reference

document is ALINORM 01/11.

To be considered at Step 8:

• Draft Group Standard for Unripened

Cheese Including Fresh Cheese;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Edible Casein Products at Step 5/8;

• Proposed Draft Amendment to the

Codex General Standard for Cheese

(Description) at Step 5/8; and ( Proposed

Draft Amendment to the Codex Group

Standard for Cheeses in Brine

(Sampling) at Step 5/8.

To be considered at Step 5:

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Cream, Whipped Creams, and

Fermented Creams;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Fermented Milks; and

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Whey Powders.

The Committee is continuing work

on:

• Proposed Draft Amendment to the

Codex General Standard for Cheese

(Composition);

• Proposed Draft Amendment to the

Codex General Standard for Cheese

(Appendix on cheese rind, surface, and

coating);

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Processed Cheese (minimum cheese

content);

• Proposed Draft Revised Individual

Standards for Cheese (including a new

Standard for Mozzarella);

• Proposed Draft Standard for Dairy

Spreads; and

• Model Export Certificates for Milk

Products.

New Work:

• Standard for Products in Which

Milk Components are Substituted by

Non-Milk Components:

• Evaporated Skimmed Milk with

Vegetable Fat

• Sweetened Condensed Skimmed

Milk with Vegetable Fat

• Skimmed Milk Powder with

Vegetable Fat

Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS;

HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils

The Codex Committee on Fats and

Oils is responsible for elaborating

standards for fats and oils of animal,

vegetable, and marine origin. The

Committee will hold its 17th Session in

London, England, in March 2001 and

consider the following:

To be considered at Step 7:

• Draft Standard for Olive Oils and

Olive-Pomace Oils.

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Standard for Fat

Spreads and Blended Spreads.

New Work:

• Amendments to the Draft Standard

for Named Vegetable Oils:

• High Oleic Acid Sunflower Oil

• High Oleic Acid Safflower Oil

• Code of Practice for Storage and

Transport of Fats & Oils in Bulk: List of

Acceptable Previous Cargoes and of

Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/ARS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Cocoa Products

and Chocolate

The Codex Committee on Cocoa

Products and Chocolate is responsible

for elaborating worldwide standards for

cocoa products and chocolate. The 21st

Session of the Commission endorsed the

recommendation of the forty-second

session of the Executive Committee to

initiate the revision of the Cocoa

Products and Chocolate Standards. The

Committee will hold its 18th Session in

Switzerland in November 2000 and

consider the following:

To be considered at Step 7:

• Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa

Butters;

• Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa

(Cacao) Mass (Cocoa/Chocolate Liquor)

and Cocoa Cake, for Use in the

Manufacture of Cocoa and Chocolate

Products; and

• Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa

Powders (Cocoas) and Dry Cocoa-Sugar

Mixture.

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft Standard for

Chocolate and Chocolate Products.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits

and Vegetables

The Codex Committee on Processed

Fruits and Vegetables is responsible for

elaborating standards for Processed

Fruits and Vegetables. After having been

adjourned sine die, the Committee

34644 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

reconvened in Washington, DC, in

March 1998 to begin work revising the

standards. The 20th Session of the

Committee will be held in Washington,

DC on September 11–15, 2000. The

Committee will consider the following:

To be considered at step 7:

• Draft Standard for Canned Bamboo

Shoots;

• Draft Standard for Pickles;

• Draft Standard for Kimchee;

• Draft Revised Standard for Canned

Applesauce;

• Draft Revised Standard for Canned

Pears; and

• Draft Standard for Aqueous

Coconut Products.

To be considered at step 4:

• Proposed Draft Standard for Canned

Stone Fruits;

• Proposed Draft Standard for Canned

Citrus Fruits;

• Proposed Draft Standard for Canned

Berry Fruits;

• Proposed Draft Standard for Jams,

Jellies and Marmalades;

• Proposed Standard for Canned

Vegetables;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for

Packing Media in Canned Fruits;

• Proposed Draft Guidelines for

Packing Media in Canned Vegetables;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Mangoes;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Pineapple;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Fruit Cocktails;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Tropical Fruit Salad;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Chestnuts and Chestnut

Puree;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Tomatoes;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Canned Mushrooms;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Mango Chutney;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Pickled Cucumbers (Cucumber

Pickles);

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Table Olives;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Processed Tomato Concentrates;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Dried Apricots;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Dates;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Raisins;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Grated Desiccated Coconuts;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Unshelled Pistachio Nuts;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Dried Edible Fungi;

• Proposed Draft Revised Standard

for Edible Fungi and Fungus Products;

• Proposed Draft Standard for Soy

Sauce; and

• Proposed Draft Standard for Dried

Figs.

Other Work:

• Methods of Analysis for Processed

Fruits and Vegetables.

The committee has been tasked with

considering the revision of the

Standards for Quick Frozen Fruits and

Vegetables including: Peas,

Strawberries, Raspberries, Peaches,

Bilberries, Spinach, Blueberries, Leek,

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts,

Green and Wax Beans, French Fried

Potatoes, Whole Kernel Corn, Corn-onthe-Cob, Carrots.

Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS;

HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee for Natural Mineral

Waters

The Codex Committee for Natural

Mineral Waters (CCNMW) is responsible

for elaborating standards for natural

mineral waters. The Codex Alimentarius

Commission at its 22nd meeting

approved the development of a standard

for bottled/packaged water other than

natural mineral waters. The 7th Session

of the Committee will meet October 30–

November 1, 2000. The Committee will

consider the following:

To be considered at Step 4:

• Proposed Draft General Standard for

Bottled/Packaged Drinking Waters Other

Than Natural Mineral Waters.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Sugars

The Codex Committee on Sugars

elaborated standards for all types of

sugars and sugar products. The

Committee was adjourned sine die, but

was asked to revise the standards for

sugar and honey. The Committee

prepared the revised standard for sugar

by correspondence. At its 23rd Session,

the Codex Alimentarius Commission

adopted the Draft Revised Standard for

Sugar with the exception of the levels of

arsenic and lead that will be reviewed

by CCFAC. However, the Committee

decided that it could not prepare a Draft

Revised Standard for Honey by

correspondence. The United Kingdom

convened a Session of the Committee in

London, England, on February 9–11,

2000 to discuss the Draft Revised

Standard for Honey. The following

standard will be considered by the 24th

Session of the Commission in June

2001. The relevant document is

ALINORM 01/25.

To be considered at Step 8:

• Draft Revised Standard for Honey;

and

• Proposed Amendments to the

Revised Codex Standard for Sugars:

(1) Definition of Raw Cane Sugar and

Soft Sugars

(2) Food Additives and Contaminants

(3) Methods of Analysis for inclusion

in the Standard

New work:

• Amendment to the Codex Standard

for Sugar;

• Development of a Standard for

Unifloral Honey; and

• Completion of an addendum to the

Standard for Honey covering industrial

uses.

Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS,

HHS/FDA

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Certain Codex Commodity Committees

Several Codex Alimentarius

Commodity Committees have adjourned

sine die. The following Committees fall

into this category:

• Cereals, Pulses and Legumes*

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA,

USDA/GIPSA.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

• Meat Hygiene*

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

• Soups and Broths

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

• Vegetable Proteins

Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

*There is no planned activity for

these Committees in the next year.

Brief reports on activities of the Codex

Committees on Soups and Broths, and

Vegetable Proteins follows:

Codex Committee on Soups and Broths

The Codex Committee on Soups and

Broths elaborated worldwide standards

for soups, broths, bouillons and

consommes. The committee adjourned

sine die. The main tasks of the

Committee were completed. However, at

its June 1997 meeting, the Codex

Alimentarius Commission requested

that the Committee commence work

revising the Standard for Bouillons and

Consommes. A Proposed Draft Revised

Standard for Bouillons and Consommes

was prepared by the Secretariat and has

been circulated to member countries for

comment at Step 3.

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins

The Codex Committee on Vegetable

Proteins elaborated worldwide

standards for vegetable protein products

deriving from any member of the plant

kingdom. The committee was adjourned

sine die in 1989. The Codex

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34645

Alimentarius Commission at its 23rd

Session requested that the committee

undertake a revision of the Codex

Standard for Wheat Gluten. A Proposed

Draft Standard for Wheat Protein

Products has been circulated to member

countries and other interested parties

for comment at Step 3. The Proposed

Draft will be revised and should be

forwarded to the Executive Committee

for adoption at Step 5.

Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS.

U.S.Participation: Yes.

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force

on Foods Derived From Biotechnology

The Commission, at its 23rd Session,

established this task force to develop

standards, guidelines, or

recommendations, as appropriate, for

foods derived from biotechnology or

traits introduced into foods by

biotechnology, on the basis of scientific

evidence, risk analysis and having

regard, where appropriate, to other

legitimate factors relevant to the health

of consumers and the promotion of fair

trade practices. The Task Force met in

Tokyo, Japan on March 20–24, 2000.

The relevant document is ALINORM 01/

34.

Matters under discussion by the task

force at its next meeting:

• Consideration of proposed draft

general principles of an over-arching

nature for the application of risk

analysis to foods derived from

biotechnology;

• Consideration of proposed draft

guidelines for risk assessment with

reference to food safety and nutrition of

foods derived from biotechnology;

• Consideration of transparency and

involvement of stakeholders in the

proposed draft principles/guidelines;

• Consideration of analytical

methods;

• A Discussion Paper on Traceability;

and

• An Information Paper on

Familiarity.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/APHIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force

on Animal Feeding

The Commission at its 23rd Session

established the Task Force to develop

guidelines or standards as appropriate

on Good Animal Feeding practices. The

task force will meet in Copenhagen,

Denmark, on June 13–15, 2000. It will

discuss the following items:

• Draft Code of Practice for Good

Animal Feeding; and

• Other items that are important for

food safety, such as problems related to

toxic substances, pathogens, microbial

resistance, new technologies, storage,

control measures, traceability, etc.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA/CVM;

USDA/APHIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force

on Fruit and Vegetable Juices

The Commission at its 23rd Session

established this Task Force to revise and

consolidate the existing Codex

standards and guidelines for fruit and

vegetable juices and related products,

giving preference to general standards.

These standards were originally

developed by the Joint UNECE/Codex

Group of Experts on the Standardization

of Fruit Juices, which had been

abolished by its parent organizations.

The Task Force will meet in Brasilia,

Brazil, September 18–22, 2000.

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA;

USDA/AMS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating

Committees

The Codex Alimentarius Commission

is made up of an Executive Committee,

as well as approximately 30 subsidiary

bodies. Included in these subsidiary

bodies are coordinating committees for

groups of countries located in proximity

to each other who share common

concerns. There are currently six

Regional Coordinating Committees:

• Coordinating Committee for Africa

• Coordinating Committee for Asia

• Coordinating Committee for Europe

• Coordinating Committee for Latin

America and the Caribbean

• Coordinating Committee for the

Near East

• Coordinating Committee for North

America and the South-West Pacific

The United States participates as an

active member of the Coordinating

Committee for North America and the

South-West Pacific, and is informed of

the other coordinating committees

through meeting documents, final

reports, and representation at meetings.

Each regional committee:

• Defines the problems and needs of

the region concerning food standards

and food control;

• Promotes within the committee

contacts for the mutual exchange of

information on proposed regulatory

initiatives and problems arising from

food control and stimulates the

strengthening of food control

infrastructures;

• Recommends to the Commission

the development of world-wide

standards for products of interest to the

region, including products considered

by the committee to have an

international market potential in the

future; and

• Exercises a general coordinating

role for the region and such other

functions as may be entrusted to it by

the Commission.

Codex Coordinating Committee for

North America and the South-West

Pacific

The Coordinating Committee is

responsible for defining problems and

needs concerning food standards and

food control of all Codex member

countries of the region. The Sixth

Session of the Committee will be held

in December 2000, in Brisbane,

Australia. Agenda topics will include

the following:

• Review of acceptance and

promotion of Codex standards by

countries in the region;

• National reports on food control,

food safety, and food standards in the

region;

• National reports on the application

of risk analysis;

• Promotion of Codex activities in the

Region; and

• Report on activities of national

Codex contact points and national

Codex committees in the region

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.

U.S. Participation: Yes.

Attachment 2

U.S. Codex Alimentarius Officials

Codex Committee Chairpersons

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene

Dr. I. Kaye Wachsmuth, Deputy

Administrator, Office of Public

Health and Science, Food Safety

and Inspection Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Room

341–E, Jamie L. Whitten Federal

Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250–3700, Phone #: (202) 720–

2644, Fax # (202) 690–2980, E-mail:

kaye.wachsmuth@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits

and Vegetables

Mr. David L. Priester, Head,

Standardization Section, AMS Fruit

& Vegetable Programs, Fresh

Products Branch, USDA Stop 0140,

Room 2049–S, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250–0240, Phone #: (202) 720–

2185, Fax #: (202) 720–8871, Email: david.priester@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Residues of

Veterinary Drugs in Foods

Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director, Center

for Veterinary Medicine, Food and

Drug Administration, 7500 Standish

Place (HFV–1), Rockville, MD

20855, Phone #: (301) 594–1740,

34646 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

Fax #: (301) 594–1830, E-mail:

ssundlof@cvm.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses

and Legumes (adjourned sine die)

Mr. Steven N. Tanner, Director,

Technical Services Division, Grain

Inspection, Packers & Stockyards

Administration, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 10383 N. Executive

Hills Blvd., Kansas City, MO

64153–1394, Phone #: (816) 891–

0401, Fax #: (816) 891–0478, Email: stanner@tsd.fgiskc.usda.gov

Listing of U.S. Delegates and Alternate

Delegates

Worldwide General Subject Codex

Committees

Codex Committee on Residues of

Veterinary Drugs in Foods

(Host Government—United States)

U.S. Delegate

Dr. Robert C. Livingston, Center for

Veterinary Medicine (HFV–1), Food

and Drug Administration, 7500

Standish Place, Rockville, MD

20855, Phone #: (301) 594–5903,

Fax #: (301) 594–1830, E-mail:

rlivings@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate VACANT

Codex Committee on Food Additives

and Contaminants

(Host Government—The Netherlands)

U.S. Delegate

Dr. Alan Rulis, Director, Office of

Premarket Approval (HFS–200),

Center for Food Safety and Applied

Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 418–3100, Fax #: (202) 418–

3131, E-mail:

arulis@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Terry C. Troxell, Director, Office

of Plant and Dairy Foods and

Beverages (HFS–300), Center for

Food Safety and Applied Nutrition,

Food and Drug Administration, 200

C Street, SW, (HFS–456),

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–4064, Fax #: (202) 205–

4422, E-mail:

ttroxell@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues

(Host Government—The Netherlands)

U.S. Delegate

Mr. Fred Ives, Health Effects Division

(7509C), Office of Pesticide

Programs, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Ariel Rios

Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.

NW, Washington, DC 20460, Phone

#: (703) 305–6378, Fax #: (703) 305–

5147, E-mail:

ives.fred@epamail.epa.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Richard Parry, Jr., Assistant

Administrator, Cooperative

Interactions, Agricultural Research

Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Room 358–A, Jamie L.

Whitten Federal Building,

Washington, DC 20250–3700,

Phone #: (202) 720–3973, Fax #:

(202) 720–5427, E-mail:

rparry@ars.usda.gov

Codex Committee on Methods of

Analysis and Sampling

(Host Government—Hungary)

U.S. Delegate

Dr. William Horwitz, Scientific

Advisor (HFS–500), Center for Food

Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food

and Drug Administration, Room

3832, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–4346, Fax #: (202) 401–

7740, E-mail:

whorwitz@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. William Franks, Deputy

Administrator, Science and

Technology, Agricultural Marketing

Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Room 3507, South

Agriculture Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250, Phone #:

(202) 720–5231, Fax #: (202) 720–

6496, E-mail:

william.franks@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Food Import and

Export Certification and Inspection

Systems

(Host Government—Australia)

Delegate

Mr. L. Robert Lake, Director, Office of

Regulations and Policy (HFS–4),

U.S. Food and Drug Administration,

200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC

20204, Phone #: (202) 205–4160,

Fax #: (202) 401–7739, E-mail:

rlake@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. Mark Manis, Director,

International Policy Development

Division, Office of Policy, Program

Development, and Evaluation, Food

Safety and Inspection Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Room

4434, South Agriculture Building,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–3700,

Phone #: (202) 720–6400, Fax #:

(202) 720–7990, E-mail:

mark.manis@usda.gov

Codex Committee on General Principles

(Host Government—France)

Delegate

Note: A member of the Steering Committee

heads the delegation to meetings of the

General Principles Committee.

Codex Committee on Food Labelling

(Host Government—Canada)

Delegate

Dr. Christine Lewis, Director, Office of

Nutritional Products, Labeling, and

Dietary Substances Center for Food

Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food

and Drug Administration, 200 C

Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204,

Phone #: (202) 205–4434, Fax #:

(202) 205–4594, E-mail:

Christine.Lewis@cfsan.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Robert Post, Director, Labeling and

Additive Policy Division, Office of

Policy, Program Development and

Evaluation, Food Safety and

Inspection Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Cotton Annex, Room

602, Washington, DC 20250–3700,

Phone #: (202) 205–0279, Fax #:

(202) 205–3625, E-mail:

robert.post@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene

(Host Government—United States)

Delegate

Dr. Robert Buchanan, Senior Science

Advisor, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–5053, Fax #: (202) 205–

4970, E-mail:

rbuchana@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. H. Michael Wehr (acting), Office

of Constituent Operations, U.S.

Food and Drug Administration,

Room 5826 (HFS–550), 200 C St.

SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone

#: (202) 260–2786, Fax #: (202) 205–

0165, E-mail:

mwehr@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Nutrition and

Foods for Special Dietary Uses

(Host Government—Germany)

Delegate

Dr. Elizabeth Yetley, FDA Lead

Scientist for Nutrition (HFS–450),

Food and Drug Administration, 200

C Street, SW, Washington, DC

20204, Phone #: (202) 205–4168,

Fax #: (202) 205–5295, E-mail:

eyetley@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

VACANT

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34647

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and

Vegetables

(Host Government—Mexico)

Delegate

Mr. David L. Priester, Head,

Standardization Section, AMS Fruit

& Vegetable Programs, Fresh

Products Branch, USDA Stop 0140,

Room 2049–S 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250–0240, Phone #: (202) 720–

2185, Fax #: (202) 720–8871, Email: david.priester@usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. Larry B. Lace, Branch Chief, Fresh

Products Branch, Fruits and

Vegetable Division, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Room 2049, South

Agriculture Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20090–6456,

Phone #: (202) 720–5870, Fax #:

(202) 720–0393, E-mail:

larry.lace@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery

Products

(Host Government—Norway)

Delegate

Mr. Philip C. Spiller, Director, Office

of Seafood (HFS–400) VERB, Center

for Food Safety and Applied

Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 418–3133, Fax #: (202) 418–

3198, E-mail:

pspiller@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. Samuel W. McKeen, Director,

Office of Trade and Industry

Services, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration,

NMFS, 1335 East-West Highway,

Room 6490, Silver Spring, MD

20910, Phone #: (301) 713–2351,

Fax #: (301) 713–1081, E-mail:

samuel.mckeen@noaa.gov

Codex Committee on Milk and Milk

Products

(Host Government—New Zealand)

Delegate

Mr. Duane Spomer, Chief, Dairy

Standardization Branch, U.S.

Department of Agriculture,

Agricultural Marketing Service,

Room 2750, South Agriculture

Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250–0230, Phone #: (202) 720–

9382, Fax #: (202) 720–2643, Email: duane.spomer@usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. John C. Mowbray, Division of

Programs and Enforcement Policy

(HFS–306), Center for Food Safety

and Applied Nutrition, Food and

Drug Administration, 200 C Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone

#: (202) 205–1731, Fax #: (202) 205–

4422, E-mail:

jmowbray@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils

(Host Government—United Kingdom)

Delegate

Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director,

International Activities Staff (HFS–

585), Center for Food Safety and

Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–5042, Fax #: (202) 401–

7739, E-mail:

ccooper@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Dwayne Buxton, National Program

Leader for Oilseeds and Bioscience,

Agricultural Research Service,

Room 212, Building 005, BARC

West, Beltsville, MD 20705, Phone

#: (301) 504–5321, Fax #: (301) 504–

5467, E-mail:

dwayne.buxton@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits

and Vegetables

(Host Government—United States)

Delegate

Mr. James Rodeheaver, Chief,

Processed Products Branch, Fruits

and Vegetables Program,

Agricultural Marketing Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

P.O. Box 96456, Room 0709, South

Agriculture Building, Washington,

DC 20090–6456, Phone: (202) 720–

4693, Fax: (202) 690–1527, E-mail:

james.rodeheaver@usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director,

International Activities Staff (HFS–

585), Center for Food Safety and

Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–5042, Fax #: (202) 401–

7739, ccooper@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Cocoa Products

and Chocolate

(Host Government—Switzerland)

U.S. Delegate

Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director,

International Activities Staff (HFS–

585), Center for Food Safety and

Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–5042, Fax #: (202) 401–

7739, E-mail:

ccooper@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Michelle Smith, Food

Technologist, Office of Food

Labeling, Center for Food Safety

and Applied Nutrition (HFS–158),

200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC

20204, Phone #: (202) 205–5099,

Fax #: (202) 205–4594, E-mail:

msmith1@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Natural Mineral

Waters

(Host Government—Switzerland)

Delegate

Dr. Terry C. Troxell, Director, Office

of Plant and Dairy Foods and

Beverages (HFS–300), Center for

Food Safety and Applied Nutrition,

Food and Drug Administration, 200

C Street, SW, Washington, DC

20204, Phone #: (202) 205–5321,

Fax #: (202) 205–4422, E-mail:

ttroxell@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Ms. Shellee Anderson, Division of

Programs and Enforcement Policy,

(HFS–306), Center for Food Safety

and Applied Nutrition, Food and

Drug Administration, 200 C Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone

#: (202) 205–4681, Fax #: (202) 205–

4422, E-mail:

sdavis@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Sugars

(Host Government—United Kingdom)

Delegate

Dr. Thomas L. Tew, Research

Geneticist, Sugarcane Research

Unit, Agricultural Research Service,

USDA, 5883 USDA Road, Houma,

LA 70360, Phone #: (504) 872–5042,

Fax #: (504) 868–8369, E-mail:

ttew@nola.srrc.usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Dennis M. Keefe, Office of

Premarket Approval (HFS–200),

Center for Food Safety and Applied

Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 418–3113, Fax #: (202) 418–

3131, E-mail:

dkeefe@bangate.fda.gov

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses

and Legumes 1

(Host Government—United States)

Delegate

Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director,

International Activities Staff (HFS–

585), Center for Food Safety and

Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone #:

(202) 205–5042, Fax #: (202) 401–

7739, E-mail:

34648 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

1Adjourned sine die. The main tasks of these

Committees are completed. However, the

committees may be called to meet again if required.

ccooper@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Mr. David Shipman, Deputy

Administrator, Grain Inspection

Packers and Stockyards

Administration, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Room 1092, South

Agriculture Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–3601,

Phone #: (202) 720–9170, Fax #:

(202) 720–1015,

dshipman@gipsadc.usda.gov

Codex Committee on Soups and Broths 1

(Host Government—Switzerland)

Delegate

Mr. Charles Edwards, Director,

Labeling, Products and Technology

Standards Division, Office of

Policy, Program Development and

Evaluation, Food Safety and

Inspection Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Room 405, Cotton

Annex, 300 12th Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–3700,

Phone #: (202) 205–0675, Fax #:

(202) 205–0080, E-mail:

charles.edwards@usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Robert Post, Director, Labeling

Additives and Policy Division,

Office of Policy, Program

Development and Evaluation, Food

Safety and Inspection Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Room

602, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20250–3700,

Phone #: (202) 205–0279, Fax #:

(202) 205–3625, E-mail:

robert.post@usda.gov

Codex Committee on Vegetable

Proteins 1

(Host Government—Canada)

U.S. Delegate

Dr. Wilda H. Martinez, Associate

Deputy Administrator, Aqua

Products and Human Nutrition

Sciences, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Agricultural Research

Service, Room 107, B–005,

Beltsville, MD 20705, Phone #:

(301) 504–6275, Fax #: (301) 504–

6699, E-mail:

wmartinez@ars.usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Vacant

Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene 1

(Host Government—New Zealand)

Delegate

Dr. John Prucha, Assistant Deputy

Administrator, International and

Domestic Policy, Food Safety and

Inspection Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Room 4866, South

Agriculture Building, Washington,

DC 20250–3700, Phone #: (202)

720–3473, Fax #: (202) 690–3856, Email: john.prucha@usda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Vacant

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force

on Fruit and Vegetable Juices 

(Host government—Brazil)

Delegate

Mr. Martin Stutsman, Office of Plant

and Dairy Foods and Beverages

(HFS–306), Center for Food Safety

and Applied Nutrition, Food and

Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone:

(202) 260–1949, Fax: (202) 205–

4422, E-mail:

mstutsma@bangate.fda.gov 

Alternate Delegate

Mr. David Priester, Head,

Standardization Section, AMS Fruit

& Vegetable Programs, Fresh

Products Branch, USDA Stop 0140,

Room 2049–S, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250–0240 Phone #: (202) 720–

2185, Fax #: (202) 720–8871, Email: david.priester@usda.gov 

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force

on Foods Derived From Biotechnology 

(Host government—Japan)

Delegate

L. Robert Lake, Director, Office of

Regulations and Policy (HFS–4),

Center for Food Safety and Applied

Nutrition (HFS–4), Food and Drug

Administration, 200 C St. SW,

Washington, DC 20204, Phone:

(202) 205–4160, Fax: (202) 401–

7739, E-mail: rlake@bangate.fda.gov

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Sally L. McCammon, Science

Advisor to the Administrator,

Animal Plant Health Inspection

Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 4700 River Road (Unit

98), Riverdale, MD 20737, Phone

(301) 734–5761, Fax: (301) 734–

5992, E-mail:

Sally.L.Mccammon@usda.gov 

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Group

on Animal Feeding 

(Host government—Denmark)

Delegate

Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director,

Center for Veterinary Medicine,

Food and Drug Administration,

7500 Standish Place (HFV–1),

Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: (301)

594–1740, Fax: (301) 594–1830, Email: ssundlof@cvm.fda.gov 

Alternate Delegate

Dr. Alejandro B. Thiermann, Regional

Director for Europe, Africa and the

Middle East, FAS/USEU, US

Department of Agriculture, PSC 82,

Box 002, APO AE 09710, Phone:

(322) 508–2762, Fax: (322) 511–

0918, E-mail:

Alejandro_B_Thiermann@usda.gov

Subsidiary Bodies of the Codex

Alimentarius 

There are six regional coordinating

committees:

Coordinating Committee for Africa

Coordinating Committee for Asia

Coordinating Committee for Europe

Coordinating Committee for Latin

America and the Caribbean

Coordinating Committee for the Near

East

Coordinating Committee for North

America and the South-West Pacific

Contact

Mr. Patrick Clerkin, Associate

Manager, U.S. Codex Office, Food

Safety and Inspection Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Room

4861, South Agriculture Building,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–3700,

Phone #: (202) 205–7760, Fax #:

(202) 720–3157, E-mail:

patrick.clerkin@usda.gov

Attachment 3

TIMETABLE OF CODEX SESSIONS

[June 1999 through June 2001]

1999:

CX 702–46 Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

(46th Session).

24–25 June ................................ Rome.

CX 701–23 Codex Alimentarius Commission (23rd Session) .......................... 28 June–3 July .......................... Rome.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34649

TIMETABLE OF CODEX SESSIONS—Continued

[June 1999 through June 2001]

CX 727–12 Codex Regional Coordinating Committee for Asia (12th Session) 23–26 November ....................... Chaing Mai.

CX 712–32 Codex Committee of Food Hygiene (32nd Session) .................... 29 November–4 December ....... Washington, DC.

2000:

CX 710–07 Codex Committee on Sugars (7th Session) ................................. 9–11 February ........................... London.

CX 733–08 Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Certification and

Inspection (8th Session).

21–25 February ......................... Adelaide.

CX 703–04 Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (4th Session) ........ 28 February–3 March ................ Wellington.

CX 802–01 ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Biotechnology ............. 14–17 March ............................. Tokyo.

CX 711–32 Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (32nd

Session).

20–24 March ............................. Beijing.

CX 730–12 Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods

(12th Session).

28–31 March ............................. Washington, DC.

CX 716–15 Codex Committee on General Principles (15th Session) ............. 10–14 April ................................ Paris.

CX 718–32 Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (32nd Session) ........... 1–8 May ..................................... The Hague.

CX 714–28 Codex Committee on Food Labelling (28th Session) ................... 8–12 May ................................... Ottawa.

CX 722–24 Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (24th Session) 5–9 June .................................... Alesund.

CX 803–01 ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Force on Animal Feeding 13–15 June ................................ Copenhagen.

CX 720–22 Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary

Uses (22nd Session).

19–23 June ................................ Berlin.

CX 702–47 Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

(47th Session).

28–30 June ................................ Geneva.

CX 713–20 Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (20th

Session).

11–15 September ...................... Washington, DC.

CX 801–01 ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Force on Fruit Juices (1st

Session).

18–22 September ...................... Brasilia.

CX 706–22 Codex Regional Coordinating Committee for Europe ................... 3–6 October ............................... Madrid.

CX 731–09 Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (9th Session) 9–13 October ............................. Mexico City.

CX 712–33 Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (33rd Session) .................... 23–27 October ........................... TBA.

CX 719–07 Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (7th Session) ........ 30 October–1 November ........... TBA.

CX 708–18 Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (18th Session).2–4 November ........................... TBA.

CX 707–14 Codex Regional Coordinating Committee for Africa (14th Session).27–30 November ....................... Entebbe.

CX 732–06 Codex Regional Coordinating Committee for North America and

the South-West Pacific (6th Session).

5–8 December ........................... Perth.

2001:

CX 734–01 Codex Regional Coordinating Committee for the Near East ........ 29 January–1 February ............. Cairo.

CX 725–12 Codex Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean

(12th Session).

13–16 February ......................... Santo Domingo.

CX 711–33 Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (33rd

Session).

12–16 March ............................. The Hague.

CX 715–23 Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (23rd

Session).

26 February–2 March ................ Budapest.

CX 803–02 ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding ........... 19–21 March ............................. Copenhagen.

CX 709–17 Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (17th Session) ..................... 26–30 March ............................. London.

CX 718–33 Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (33rd Session) ............ 2–6 April .................................... The Hague.

CX 716–16 Codex Committee on General Principles (16th Session) ............. 23–27 April ................................ Paris.

CX 714–29 Codex Committee on Food Labelling (29th Session) ................... 30 April–4 May .......................... Ottawa.

CX 702–48 Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

(48th Session).

28–29 June ................................ Geneva.

CX 701–24 Codex Alimentarius Committee (24th Session) ............................ 2–7 July ..................................... Geneva.

Attachment 4

Definitions for the Purpose of Codex

Alimentarius

Words and phrases have specific

meanings when used by the Codex

Alimentarius. For the purposes of

Codex, the following definitions apply:

1. Food means any substance,

whether processed, semi-processed or

raw, which is intended for human

consumption, and includes drink,

chewing gum, and any substance which

has been used in the manufacture,

preparation or treatment of ‘‘food’’ but

does not include cosmetics or tobacco or

substances used only as drugs.

2. Food hygiene comprises conditions

and measures necessary for the

production, processing, storage and

distribution of food designed to ensure

a safe, sound, wholesome product fit for

human consumption.

3. Food additive means any substance

not normally consumed as a food by

itself and not normally used as a typical

ingredient of the food, whether or not it

has nutritive value, the intentional

addition of which to food for a

technological (including organoleptic)

purpose in the manufacture, processing,

preparation, treatment, packing,

packaging, transport, or holding of such

food results, or may be reasonably

expected to result, (directly or

indirectly) in it or its by-products

becoming a component of or otherwise

affecting the characteristics of such

foods. The food additive term does not

include ‘‘contaminants’’ or substances

added to food for maintaining or

improving nutritional qualities.

4. Contaminant means any substance

not intentionally added to food, which

is present in such food as a result of the

production (including operations

carried out in crop husbandry, animal

husbandry, and veterinary medicine),

manufacture, processing, preparation,

treatment, packing, packaging, transport

or holding of such food or as a result of

34650 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

environmental contamination. The term

does not include insect fragments,

rodent hairs and other extraneous

matters.

5. Pesticide means any substance

intended for preventing, destroying,

attracting, repelling, or controlling any

pest including unwanted species of

plants or animals during the production,

storage, transport, distribution and

processing of food, agricultural

commodities, or animal feeds or which

may be administered to animals for the

control of ectoparasites. The term

includes substances intended for use as

a plant-growth regulator, defoliant,

desiccant, fruit thinning agent, or

sprouting inhibitor and substances

applied to crops either before of after

harvest to protect the commodity from

deterioration during storage and

transport. The term pesticides excludes

fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients,

food additives, and animal drugs.

6. Pesticide residue means any

specified substance in food, agricultural

commodities, or animal feed resulting

from the use of a pesticide. The term

includes any derivatives of a pesticide,

such as conversion products,

metabolites, reaction products, and

impurities considered to be of

toxological significance.

7. Good Agricultural Practice in the

Use of Pesticides (GAP) includes the

nationally authorized safe uses of

pesticides under actual conditions

necessary for effective and reliable pest

control. It encompasses a range of levels

of pesticide applications up to the

highest authorized use, applied in a

manner that leaves a residue which is

the smallest amount practicable.

Authorized safe uses are determined

at the national level and include

nationally registered or recommended

uses, which take into account public

and occupational health and

environmental safety considerations.

Actual conditions include any stage

in the production, storage, transport,

distribution and processing of food

commodities and animal feed.

8. Codex Maximum Limit for Pesticide

Residues (MRLP) is the maximum

concentration of a pesticide residue

(expressed as mg/kg), recommended by

the Codex Alimentarius Commission to

be legally permitted in or on food

commodities and animal feeds. MRLPs

are based on their toxological affects

and on GAP data and foods derived

from commodities that comply with the

respective MRLPs are intended to be

toxologically acceptable.

Codex MRLPs, which are primarily

intended to apply in international trade,

are derived from reviews conducted by

the JMPR following:

(a) Toxological assessment of the

pesticide and its residue, and

(b) Review of residue data from

supervised trials and supervised uses

including those reflecting national good

agricultural practices. Data from

supervised trials conducted at the

highest nationally recommended,

authorized, or registered uses are

included in the review. In order to

accommodate variations in national pest

control requirements, Codex MRLPs

take into account the higher levels

shown to arise in such supervised trials,

which are considered to represent

effective pest control practices.

Consideration of the various dietary

residue intake estimates and

determinations both at the national and

international level in comparison with

the ADI, should indicate that foods

complying with Codex MRLPs are safe

for human consumption.

9. Veterinary Drug means any

substance applied or administered to

any food-producing animal, such as

meat or milk-producing animals,

poultry, fish or bees, whether used for

therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic

purposes or for modification of

physiological functions or behavior.

10. Residues of Veterinary Drugs

include the parent compounds and/or

their metabolites in any edible portion

of the animal product, and include

residues of associated impurities of the

veterinary drug concerned.

11. Codex Maximum Limit for

Residues of Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD)

is the maximum concentration of

residue resulting from the use of a

veterinary drug (expressed in mg/kg or

ug/kg on a fresh weight basis) that is

recommended by the Codex

Alimentarius Commission to be legally

permitted or recognized as acceptable in

or on food.

An MRLVD is based on the type and

amount of residue considered to be

without any toxological hazard for

human health as expressed by the

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), or on the

basis of a temporary ADI that utilizes an

additional safety factor. An MRLVD also

takes into account other relevant public

health risks as well as food

technological aspects.

When establishing an MRLVD,

consideration is also given to residues

that occur in food of plant origin and/

or the environment. Furthermore, the

MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent

with good practices in the use of

veterinary drugs and to the extent that

practical and analytical methods are

available.

12. Good Practice in the Use of

Veterinary Drugs (GPVD) is the official

recommended or authorized usage

including withdrawal periods approved

by national authorities, of veterinary

drugs under practicable conditions.

13. Processing Aid means any

substance or material, not including

apparatus or utensils, not consumed as

a food ingredient by itself, intentionally

used in the processing of raw materials,

foods or its ingredients, to fulfill a

certain technological purpose during

treatment or processing and which may

result in the non-intentional but

unavoidable presence of residues or

derivatives in the final product.

Definitions of Risk Analysis Terms

Related to Food Safety

Hazard: A biological, chemical or

physical agent in, or condition of, food

with the potential to cause an adverse

health effect.

Risk: A function of the probability of

an adverse health effect and the severity

of that effect, consequential to a

hazard(s) in food.

Risk analysis: A process consisting of

three components: risk assessment, risk

management and risk communication.

Risk assessment: A scientifically

based process consisting of the

following steps: (i) Hazard

identification, (ii) hazard

characterization, (iii) exposure

assessment, and (iv) risk

characterization.

Hazard identification: The

identification of biological, chemical,

and physical agents capable of causing

adverse health effects and which may be

present in a particular food or group of

foods.

Hazard characterization: The

qualitative and/or quantitative

evaluation of the nature of the adverse

health effects associated with biological,

chemical and physical agents that may

be present in food. For chemical agents,

a dose-response assessment should be

performed. For biological or physical

agents, a dose-response assessment

should be performed if the data are

obtainable.

Dose-response assessment: The

determination of the relationship

between the magnitude of exposure

(dose) to a chemical, biological or

physical agent and the severity and/or

frequency of associated adverse health

effects (response).

Exposure assessment: The qualitative

and/or quantitative evaluation of the

likely intake of biological, chemical, and

physical agents via food as well as

exposures from other sources if relevant.

Risk characterization: The qualitative

and/or quantitative estimation,

including attendant uncertainties, of the

probability of occurrence and severity of

known or potential adverse health

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34651

1Without prejudice to any decision that may be

taken by the Commission at Step 5, the proposed

draft standard may be sent by the Secretariat for

government comment prior to its consideration at

Step 5, when, in the opinion of the subsidiary body

or other body concerned, the time between the

relevant session of the Commission and the

subsequent session of the subsidiary or other body

concerned requires such actions in order to advance

the work.

effects in a given population based on

hazard identification, hazard

characterization and exposure

assessment.

Risk management: The process,

distinct from risk assessment, of

weighing policy alternatives, in

consultation with all interested parties,

considering risk assessment and other

factors relevant for the health protection

of consumers and for the promotion of

fair trade practices, and, if needed,

selecting appropriate prevention and

control options.

Risk communication: The interactive

exchange of information and opinions

throughout the risk analysis process

concerning risk, related risk factors and

risk perceptions, among risk assessors,

risk managers, consumers, industry, the

academic community and other

interested parties, including the

explanation of risk assessment findings

and the basis of risk management

decisions.

Attachment 5

Part 1—Uniform Procedure for the

Elaboration of Codex Standards and

Related Texts

Steps 1, 2 and 3

(1) The Commission decides, taking

into account the ‘‘Criteria for the

Establishment of Work Priorities and for

the Establishment of Subsidiary

Bodies,’’ to elaborate a Worldwide

Codex Standard and also decides which

subsidiary body or other body should

undertake the work. A decision to

elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard

may also be taken by subsidiary bodies

of the Commission in accordance with

the above-mentioned criteria, subject to

subsequent approval by the Commission

or its Executive Committee at the

earliest possible opportunity. In the case

of Codex Regional Standards, the

Commission shall base its decision on

the proposal of the majority of members

belonging to a given region or group of

countries submitted at a session of the

Codex Alimentarius Commission.

(2) The Secretariat arranges for the

preparation of a proposed draft

standard. In the case of Maximum

Limits for Residues of Pesticides or

Veterinary Drugs, the Secretariat

distributes the recommendations for

maximum limits, when available from

the Joint Meetings of the FAO Panel of

Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food

and the Environment and the WHO

Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues

(JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert

Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).

In the cases of milk and milk products

or individual standards for cheeses, the

Secretariat distributes the

recommendations of the International

Dairy Federation (IDF).

(3) The proposed draft standard is

sent to members of the Commission and

interested international organizations

for comment on all aspects including

possible implications of the proposed

draft standard for their economic

interests.

Step 4

The comments received are sent by

the Secretariat to the subsidiary body or

other body concerned which has the

power to consider such comments and

to amend the proposed draft standard.

Step 5 1

The proposed draft standard is

submitted through the Secretariat to the

Commission or to the Executive

Committee with a view to its adoption

as a draft standard. When making any

decision at this step, the Commission or

the Executive Committee will give due

consideration to any comments that may

be submitted by any of its members

regarding the implications which the

proposed draft standard or any

provisions of the standard may have for

their economic interests. In the case of

Regional Standards, all members of the

Commission may present their

comments, take part in the debate and

propose amendments, but only the

majority of the Members of the region or

group of countries concerned attending

the session can decide to amend or

adopt the draft. When making any

decisions at this step, the members of

the region or group of countries

concerned will give due consideration

to any comments that may be submitted

by any of the members of the

Commission regarding the implications

which the proposed draft standard or

any provisions of the proposed draft

standard may have for their economic

interests.

Step 6

The draft standard is sent by the

Secretariat to all members and

interested international organizations

for comment on all aspects, including

possible implications of the draft

standard for their economic interests.

Step 7

The comments received are sent by

the Secretariat to the subsidiary body or

other body concerned, which has the

power to consider such comments and

amend the draft standard.

Step 8

The draft standard is submitted

through the Secretariat to the

Commission together with any written

proposals received from members and

interested international organizations

for amendments at Step 8 with a view

to its adoption as a Codex Standard. In

the case of Regional standards, all

members and interested international

organizations may present their

comments, take part in the debate and

propose amendments but only the

majority of members of the region or

group of countries concerned attending

the session can decide to amend and

adopt the draft.

Part 2 Uniform Accelerated Procedure

for the Elaboration of Codex Standards

and Related Texts

Steps 1, 2 and 3

(1) The Commission or the Executive

Committee between Commission

sessions, on the basis of a two-thirds

majority of votes cast, taking into

account the ‘‘Criteria for the

Establishment of Work Priorities and for

the Establishment of Subsidiary

Bodies’’, shall identify those standards

which shall be the subject of an

accelerated elaboration process. The

identification of such standards may

also be made by subsidiary bodies of the

Commission, on the basis of a twothirds majority of votes cast, subject to

confirmation at the earliest opportunity

by the Commission or its Executive

Committee by a two-thirds majority of

votes cast.

(2) The Secretariat arranges for the

preparation of a proposed draft

standard. In the case of Maximum

Limits for Residues of Pesticides or

Veterinary Drugs, the Secretariat

distributes the recommendations for

maximum limits, when available from

the Joint Meetings of the FAO Panel of

Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food

and the Environment and the WHO

Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues

(JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert

Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).

In the cases of milk and milk products

or individual standards for cheeses, the

Secretariat distributes the

recommendations of the International

Dairy Federation (IDF).

(3) The proposed draft standard is

sent to Members of the Commission and

interested international organizations

34652 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

for comment on all aspects including

possible implications of the proposed

draft standard for their economic

interests. When standards are subject to

an accelerated procedure, this fact shall

be notified to the Members of the

Commission and the interested

international organizations.

Step 4

The comments received are sent by

the Secretariat to the subsidiary body or

other body concerned which has the

power to consider such comments and

to amend the proposed draft standard.

Step 5

In the case of standards identified as

being subject to an accelerated

elaboration procedure, the draft

standard is submitted through the

Secretariat to the Commission together

with any written proposals received

from Members and interested

international organizations for

amendments with a view to its adoption

as a Codex standard. In taking any

decision at this step, the Commission

will give due consideration to any

comments that may be submitted by any

of its Members regarding the

implications which the proposed draft

standard or any provisions thereof may

have for their economic interests.

Attachment 6

Nature of Codex Standards

Codex standards contain requirements

for food aimed at ensuring for the

consumer a sound, wholesome food

product free from adulteration, and

correctly labelled. A Codex standard for

any food or foods should be drawn up

in accordance with the Format for

Codex Commodity Standards and

contain, as appropriate, the criteria

listed therein.

Format for Codex Commodity Standards

Including Standards Elaborated Under

the Code of Principles Concerning Milk

and Milk Products

Introduction

The format is also intended for use as

a guide by the subsidiary bodies of the

Codex Alimentarius Commission in

presenting their standards, with the

object of achieving, as far as possible, a

uniform presentation of commodity

standards. The format also indicates the

statements which should be included in

standards as appropriate under the

relevant headings of the standard. The

sections of the format required to be

completed for a standard are only those

provisions that are appropriate to an

international standard for the food in

question.

Name of the Standard

Scope

Description

Essential Composition and Quality

Factors

Food Additives

Contaminants

Hygiene

Weights and Measures

Labelling

Methods of Analysis and Sampling

Format for Codex Standards

Name of the Standard

The name of the standard should be

clear and as concise as possible. It

should usually be the common name by

which the food covered by the standard

is known or, if more than one food is

dealt with in the standard, by a generic

name covering them all. If a fully

informative title is inordinately long, a

subtitle could be added.

Scope

This section should contain a clear,

concise statement as to the food or foods

to which the standard is applicable

unless the name of the standard clearly

and concisely identifies the food or

foods. A generic standard covering more

than one specific product should clearly

identify the specific products to which

the standard applies.

Description

This section should contain a

definition of the product or products

with an indication, where appropriate,

of the raw materials from which the

product or products are derived and any

necessary references to processes of

manufacture. The description may also

include references to types and styles of

product and to type of pack. The

description may also include additional

definitions when these additional

definition are required to clarify the

meaning of the standard.

Essential Composition and Quality

Factors

This section should contain all

quantitative and other requirements as

to composition including, where

necessary, identity characteristics,

provisions on packing media and

requirements as to compulsory and

optional ingredients. It should also

include quality factors that are essential

for the designation, definition, or

composition of the product concerned.

Such factors could include the quality

of the raw material, with the object of

protecting the health of the consumer,

provisions on taste, odor, color, and

texture which may be apprehended by

the senses, and basic quality criteria for

the finished products, with the object of

preventing fraud. This section may refer

to tolerances for defects, such as

blemishes or imperfect material, but this

information should be contained in

appendix to the standard or in another

advisory text.

Food Additives

This section should contain the

names of the additives permitted and,

where appropriate, the maximum

amount permitted in the food. It should

be prepared in accordance with

guidance given on page 93 of the Codex

Procedural Manual and may take the

following form:

‘‘The following provisions in respect

of food additives and their

specifications as contained in section

* * * of the Codex Alimentarius are

subject to endorsement [have been

endorsed] by the Codex Committee on

Food Additives and Contaminants.’’

A tabulation should then follow, viz.:

‘‘Name of additive, maximum level

(in percentage or mg/kg).’’

Contaminants

(a) Pesticide Residues: This section

should include, by reference, any levels

for pesticide residues that have been

established by the Codex Committee on

Pesticide Residues for the product

concerned.

(b) Other Contaminants: In addition,

this section should contain the names of

other contaminants and where

appropriate the maximum level

permitted in the food, and the text to

appear in the standard may take the

following form:

‘‘The following provisions in respect

of contaminants, other than pesticide

residues, are subject to endorsement

[have been endorsed] by the Codex

Committee on Food Additives and

Contaminants.’’

A tabulation should then follow, viz.:

‘‘Name of contaminant, maximum level

(in percentage or mg/kg).’’

Hygiene

Any specific mandatory hygiene

provisions considered necessary should

be included in this section. They should

be prepared in accordance with the

guidance given on page 95 of the Codex

Procedural Manual. Reference should

also be made to applicable codes of

hygienic practice. Any parts of such

codes, including in particular any endproduct specifications, should be set out

in the standard, if it is considered

necessary that they should be made

mandatory. The following statement

should also appear:

‘‘The following provisions in respect

of the food hygiene of the product are

subject to endorsement [have been

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34653

endorsed] by the Codex Committee on

Food Hygiene.’’

Weights and Measures

This section should include all

provisions, other than labelling

provisions, relating to weights and

measures, e.g. where appropriate, fill of

container, weight, measure or count of

units determined by an appropriate

method of sampling and analysis.

Weights and measures should be

expressed in S.I. units. In the case of

standards which include provisions for

the sale of products in standardized

amounts, e.g. multiples of 100 grams,

S.I. units should be used, but this would

not preclude additional statements in

the standards of these standardized

amounts in approximately similar

amounts in other systems of weights

and measures.

Labelling

This section should include all the

labelling provisions contained in the

standard and should be prepared in

accordance with the guidance given on

page 92 of the Codex Procedural

Manual. Provisions should be included

by reference to the General Standard for

the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. The

section may also contain provisions

which are exemptions from, additions

to, or which are necessary for the

interpretation of the General Standard

in respect of the product concerned

provided that these can be justified

fully. The following statement should

also appear:

‘‘The following provisions in respect

of the labelling of this product are

subject to endorsement [have been

endorsed] by the Codex Committee on

Food Labelling.’’

Methods of Anaylsis and Sampling

This section should include, either

specifically or by reference, all methods

of analysis and sampling considered

necessary and should be prepared in

accordance with the guidance given on

page 95 of the Codex Procedural

Manual. If two or more methods have

been proved to be equivalent by the

Codex Committee on Methods of

Analysis and Sampling, these could be

regarded as alternative and included in

this section either specifically or by

reference. The following statement

should also appear:

‘‘The methods of analysis and

sampling described hereunder are to be

endorsed [have been endorsed] by the

Codex Committee on Methods of

Analysis and Sampling.’’

[FR Doc. 00–13292 Filed 5–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 00–013N]

In-Distribution Inspection Activities

and Initiatives; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and

Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing

a public meeting on June 9, 2000, to

discuss its strategy for addressing the

safety of meat and poultry products

during distribution and to provide an

overview and update on the indistribution (ID) Inspection Project. The

broader implications of ID activities in

the Agency’s projected inspection

system will also be discussed.

DATES: The meeting will be held on June

9, 2000, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Washington Plaza Hotel in

Washington, DC, 10 Thomas Circle NW.

(at Massachusetts Avenue and 14th

Street), Washington, DC 20005, (202)

842–1300.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To

register for the meeting, contact Ms. Ida

Gambrell of the FSIS Planning Staff by

telephone (202) 501–7260, FAX (202)

501–7615, or e-mail:

ida.gambrell@usda.gov. Attendees who

require a sign language interpreter or

other special accommodations should

contact Ms. Gambrell at the above

numbers by June 2, 2000. For technical

information contact Ms. Mary Cutshall

by telephone (202) 720–3219, FAX (202)

690–0824, or e-mail:

mary.cutshall@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of

the implementation of the Agency’s

Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis

and Critical Control Point (HACCP)

Systems final rule, published July 25,

1996 (61 FR 38806), the Agency is

committed to developing strategies that

address food safety hazards throughout

the farm-to-table continuum.

Under the Federal Meat Inspection

Act (FMIA) and the Poultry Products

Inspection Act (PPIA), FSIS has the

authority and responsibility to regulate

not only the slaughter and processing

but also the transportation, storage, and

other handling of meat and poultry

products.

FSIS compliance officers are charged

with performing the tasks associated

with ensuring the safety of meat and

poultry products along the farm-to-table

continuum (other than in-plant

production). FSIS is now looking at

alternative strategies for ensuring the

safety of these products after they leave

an inspected plant. One way of doing

this is through the ID Inspection Project.

The Agency has assigned 11

inspectors to the ID Inspection Project.

The Agency is also working with the

State of Minnesota to develop an

alternative strategy for addressing food

safety hazards and other problems

presented by federally inspected

product in distribution. Under this

developing approach, the State will

advise FSIS of adulterated or

misbranded federally inspected product

that State inspectors find at retail/

distribution/warehouse centers in the

course of their regular inspections.

The purpose of the public meeting is

to provide the public with information

on the progress of these activities and

on the Agency’s tentative plans

regarding future in-distribution

activities.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of

rulemaking and policy development is

important. Consequently, in an effort to

better ensure that minorities, women,

and persons with disabilities are aware

of this notice, FSIS will announce it and

provide copies of this Federal Register

publication in the FSIS Constituent

Update. FSIS provides a weekly FSIS

Constituent Update, which is

communicated via fax to over 300

organizations and individuals. In

addition, the update is available on-line

through the FSIS web page located at

http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is

used to provide information regarding

FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,

Federal Register notices, FSIS public

meetings, recalls, and any other types of

information that could affect or would

be of interest to our constituents/

stakeholders. The constituent fax list

consists of industry, trade, and farm

groups, consumer interest groups, allied

health professionals, scientific

professionals, and other individuals that

have requested to be included. Through

these various channels, FSIS is able to

provide information to a much broader,

more diverse audience. For more

information and to be added to the

constituent fax list, fax your request to

the Congressional and Public Affairs

Office, at (202) 720–5704.

Transcripts of this meeting will be

made available in the FSIS Docket

Room.

Done in Washington, DC, on May 24, 2000.

Thomas J. Billy,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 00–13527 Filed 5–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P