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###### Department of Agriculture

###### U.S. Codex Office

# AGENCY:

U.S. Codex Office, USDA.

# ACTION:

Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

The U.S. Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on December 6, 2023. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 7th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). CCSCH7 will be held in Kochi, Kerala, India, from January 29-February 2, 2024. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 7th Session of the CCSCH and to address items on the agenda.

# DATES:

The public meeting is scheduled for December 6, 2023, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. EDT.

# ADDRESSES:

                        The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference only. Documents related to the 7th Session of the CCSCH will be accessible via the internet at the following address:                         *https://www.fao.org/​fao-who-codexalimentarius/​meetings/​detail/​en/​?meeting=​CCSCH&​session=​7.*

                        Mr. Dorian LaFond, U.S. Delegate to the 7th Session of the CCSCH, invites interested U.S. parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address:                         *dorian.lafond@usda.gov.*

*Registration:*                         Attendees may register to attend the public meeting here:                         *https://www.zoomgov.com/​meeting/​register/​vJItcuyqrDgsEpm1ar9sahLeoFTqCPXeXig.*                         After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.                    

                        For further information about the 7th Session of the CCSCH, contact U.S. Delegate, Mr. Dorian LaFond, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,                         *dorian.lafond@usda.gov,*                         (202) 690-4944. For an additional contact regarding the public meeting, contact the U.S. Codex Office by email at:                         *uscodex@usda.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Background

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 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 protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

The Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) are:

(a) To elaborate worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs in their dried and dehydrated state in whole, ground, and cracked or crushed form;

(b) To consult, as necessary, with other international organizations in the standards development process to avoid duplication.

                    The CCSCH is hosted by India. The United States attends the CCSCH as a member country of Codex.                          ( print page 77261)    

## Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

The following items from the forthcoming Agenda for the 7th Session of the CCSCH will be discussed during the public meeting:
    - Matters referred to the Committee by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and/or its subsidiary bodies
    - Draft standard for small cardamom
    - Draft standard for spices in the form of dried fruits and berries: Part A—Requirements for allspice, juniper berry, star anise
    - Proposed draft standard for spices in the form of dried fruits and berries: Part B—Requirements for vanilla
    - Proposed draft standard for turmeric
    - Consideration of the proposals for new work
    - Update to the template for spices and culinary herbs standards
    - Date and place of the next session

## Public Meeting

                    At the December 6, 2023, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to Mr. Dorian LaFond, U.S. Delegate for the 7th Session of the CCSCH, at                     *dorian.lafond@usda.gov.*                     Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 7th Session of the CCSCH.                

## Additional Public Notification

                    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, the U.S. Codex Office will announce this                     **Federal Register**                     publication on-line through the USDA Codex web page located at:                     *http://www.usda.gov/​codex,*                     a link that also offers an email subscription service providing access to information related to Codex. Customers can add or delete their subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.                

## USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to discrimination any person in the United States under any program or activity conducted by the USDA.

## How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

                    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at                     *https://www.usda.gov/​oascr/​filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer,*                     or write a letter signed by you or your authorized representative. Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; Fax: (202) 690-7442; Email:                     *program.intake@usda.gov.*                     Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).                

Done at Washington, DC, on November 3, 2023.

Mary Frances Lowe,

U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.

[FR Doc. 2023-24773 Filed 11-8-23; 8:45 am]

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