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

39041 

Vol. 83, No. 153 

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

[Docket No. FSIS–2018–0013] 

Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs; 

Codex Alimentarius Commission: 

International Standard-Setting 

Activities 

AGENCY: Office of Trade and Foreign 

Agriculture Affairs (TFAA), 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. This notice 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 Codex activities 

during the time periods from June 1, 

2016, to May 31, 2017, and June 1, 2017, 

to July 20, 2018, seeks comments on 

standards under consideration and 

recommendations for new standards. 

ADDRESSES: The U.S. Codex Office 

invites interested persons to submit 

their comments on this notice. 

Comments may be submitted by one of 

the following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: This 

website provides the ability to type 

short comments directly into the 

comment field on this web page or 

attach a file for lengthier comments. Go 

to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 

the on-line instructions at the website 

for submitting comments. 

• Mail, including CD–ROMs, etc.: 

Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Food Safety and 

Inspection Service, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, 

Washington, DC 20250–3700. 

• Hand- or courier-delivered 

submittals: Deliver to 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 

Washington, DC 20250–3700. 

Instructions: All items submitted by 

mail or email are to include the Agency 

name and docket number FSIS–2018– 

0013. Comments received in response to 

this docket will be made available for 

public inspection and posted without 

change, including any personal 

information to http://

www.regulations.gov. 

Please state that your comments refer 

to Codex and, if your comments relate 

to specific Codex committees, please 

identify the committee(s) in your 

comments and submit a copy of your 

comments to the delegate from that 

particular committee. 

Docket: For access to background 

documents or comments received, call 

(202) 720–5627 to schedule a time to 

visit the FSIS Docket Room at 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 

Washington, DC 20250–3700. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Frances Lowe, United States 

Manager for Codex Alimentarius, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Office of 

Food Safety, South Agriculture 

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW, Room 4861, Washington, DC 

20250–3700; Telephone: (202) 205– 

7760; Fax: (202) 720–3157; Email: 

USCodex@fsis.usda.gov. 

For information pertaining to 

particular committees, contact the 

delegate of that committee. A complete 

list of U.S. delegates and alternate 

delegates can be found in Attachment 2 

of this notice. Documents pertaining to 

Codex and specific committee agendas 

are accessible via the internet at http:// 

www.codexalimentarius.org/meetingsreports/en/. The U.S. Codex Office also 

maintains a website at http://

www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/ 

topics/international-affairs/us-codexalimentarius. 

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). United 

States membership in the WTO was 

approved and the Uruguay Round 

Agreements Act (Uruguay Round 

Agreements) was signed into law by the 

President on December 8, 1994, Public 

Law 103–465, 108 Stat. 4809. The 

Uruguay Round Agreements became 

effective, with respect to the United 

States, on January 1, 1995. The Uruguay 

Round Agreements amended the Trade 

Agreements Act of 1979. 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) 

standard-setting activities of each 

international standard-setting 

organization’’ (19 U.S.C. 2578). The 

main international standard-setting 

organizations are Codex, the World 

Organisation for Animal Health, 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 

the SPS standard-setting activities of 

each international standard-setting 

organization. The Secretary of 

Agriculture has delegated to the Office 

of Trade and Foreign Agricultural 

Affairs the responsibility to inform the 

public of the SPS standard-setting 

activities of Codex. The Office of Trade 

and Foreign Agricultural Affairs has, in 

turn, assigned the responsibility for 

informing the public of the SPS 

standard-setting activities of Codex to 

the U.S. Codex Office (USCO). 

Codex was created in 1963 by two 

United Nations organizations, the Food 

and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and 

the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Codex is the principal international 

organization for establishing standards 

for food. 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, 

ensure fair practices in the food trade, 

and promote coordination of food 

standards work undertaken by 

international governmental and 

nongovernmental organizations. In the 

United States, U.S. Codex activities are 

managed and carried out by the United 

States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA); the Food and Drug 


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39042 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Notices 

Administration (FDA), Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS); the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), Department of 

Commerce (DOC); and the 

Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA). 

As the agency responsible for 

informing the public of the SPS 

standard-setting activities of Codex, the 

U.S. Codex Office publishes this notice 

in the Federal Register annually. 

Attachment 1 (Sanitary and 

Phytosanitary Activities of Codex) sets 

forth the following information: 

1. The SPS standards under 

consideration or planned for 

consideration; and 

2. For each SPS 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 THE 

STANDARDS LISTED IN 

ATTACHMENT 1, PLEASE CONTACT 

THE CODEX DELEGATE OR THE U.S. 

CODEX OFFICE. 

This notice also solicits public 

comment on standards that are currently 

under consideration or planned for 

consideration and 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 U.S. delegate will facilitate public 

participation in the United States 

Government’s activities relating to 

Codex. The U.S. 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 U.S. delegation 

activities to interested parties. This 

information will include the status of 

each agenda item; the U.S. 

Government’s position or preliminary 

position on the agenda items; and the 

time and place of planning meetings 

and debriefing meetings following the 

Codex committee sessions. In addition, 

the U.S. Codex Office makes much of 

the same information available through 

its web page at http://

www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/ 

topics/international-affairs/us-codexalimentarius. If you would like to access 

or receive information about specific 

committees, please visit the web page or 

notify the appropriate U.S. delegate or 

the U.S. Codex Office, Room 4861, 

South Agriculture Building, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20250–3700 (uscodex@

fsis.usda.gov). 

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, 2016, to May 31, 2017, and 

June 1, 2017, to July 20, 2018. 

Attachment 2 provides a list of U.S. 

Codex Officials (including U.S. 

delegates and alternate delegates). A list 

of forthcoming Codex sessions may be 

found at: http://www.fao.org/fao-whocodexalimentarius/meetings/en/. 

Additional Public Notification 

Public awareness of all segments of 

rulemaking and policy development is 

important. Consequently, FSIS will 

announce this Federal Register 

publication on-line through the FSIS 

web page located at: http://

www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. 

Done at Washington, DC. 

Mary Frances Lowe, 

U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius. 

Attachment 1 

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities of 

Codex 

Codex Alimentarius Commission and 

Executive Committee 

The Codex Alimentarius Commission 

convened for its 41st Session July 2–6, 2018, 

in Rome, Italy. At that time, the Commission 

adopted standards recommended by 

Committees at Step at 8 or Step 5/8 (final 

adoption), and it advanced the work of 

Committees by adopting draft standards at 

Step 5 (for further comment and 

consideration by the relevant committee). 

The Commission also considered proposals 

for new work; discontinuation of work; 

amendments to Codex standards and related 

texts; matters arising from the reports of the 

Commission, the Executive Committee and 

subsidiary bodies; committees working by 

correspondence and a possible pilot for a 

committee on standards advancement; 

regular review of Codex work management; 

Codex budgetary and financial matters for 

2020–2021; FAO/WHO Scientific Support for 

Codex activities; matters arising from FAO 

and WHO; reports on side events on FAO 

and WHO capacity development activities, 

the Codex Trust Fund, and discussion panels 

with International Government Organizations 

and Non-Governmental Organizations; 

election of the chairperson and vicechairpersons of Codex; and other business. 

Before the Commission meeting, the 

Executive Committee met for its 75th Session 

from June 26 to 29, 2018. It is composed of 

the chairperson and vice-chairpersons of the 

CAC; seven members elected by the 

Commission from each of the following 

geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, 

Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, 

North America, and South-West Pacific; and 

regional coordinators from the six regional 

committees. The United States participated 

as the member elected on a geographic basis 

for North America. The Executive Committee 

conducted a critical review of the elaboration 

of Codex standards; reviewed the 

implementation status of the 2014–2019 

Strategic Plan and preparation of the 2020– 

2025 Strategic Plan; and considered the work 

of committees working by correspondence 

and the possibility of a pilot for a committee 

on standards advancement, FAO/WHO 

Scientific Support for Codex work, other 

matters arising from FAO and WHO, and 

financial and budgetary issues. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/TFAA/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary 

Drugs in Foods 

The Codex Committee on Residues of 

Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) 

determines priorities for the consideration of 

residues of veterinary drugs in foods and 

recommends Maximum Residue Limits 

(MRLs) for veterinary drugs. The Committee 

also develops codes of practice, as may be 

required, and considers methods of sampling 

and analysis for the determination of 

veterinary drug residues in food. A veterinary 

drug is defined as 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. 

A Codex MRL for residues of veterinary 

drugs 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 

permitted or recognized as acceptable in or 

on a food. Residues of a veterinary drug 

include the parent compounds or their 

metabolites in any edible portion of the 

animal product, and include residues of 

associated impurities of the veterinary drug 

concerned. An MRL 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. When 

establishing an MRL, consideration is also 

given to residues that occur in food of plant 

origin or the environment. Furthermore, the 

MRL may be reduced to be consistent with 

official recommended or authorized usage, 

approved by national authorities, of the 

veterinary drugs under practical conditions. 

An ADI is an estimate made by the Joint 

FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food 

Additives (JECFA) of the amount of a 

veterinary drug, expressed on a body weight 

basis, which can be ingested daily in food 

over a lifetime without appreciable health 

risk. 

The Committee convened for its 24th 

Session (CCRVDF24) in Chicago, Illinois, 

April 23–27, 2018. The relevant document is 

REP18/RVDF. The following items were 


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adopted by the 41st Session of the 

Commission in July 2018: 

Adopted at Step 5/8: 

• Proposed draft MRLs for amoxicillin 

(finfish fillet, muscle); ampicillin (finfish 

fillet, muscle; lufenuron (salmon and trout 

fillet); monepantel (cattle fat, kidney, liver, 

muscle). 

Adopted at Step 8: 

• Draft Risk Management 

Recommendation for gentian violet. 

Adopted at Step 5: 

• Proposed draft MRL for flumethrin 

(honey). 

The Commission also adopted the 

proposed amendment to the Risk Analysis 

Principles Applied by CCRVDF in the Codex 

Procedural Manual, and approved new work 

on the priority list of veterinary drugs for 

evaluation by the Joint Expert Committee on 

Food Additives, as recommended by 

CCRVDF24. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Proposed draft MRLs for zilpaterol 

hydrochloride (cattle fat, kidney, liver, 

muscle); 

• Draft Priority List of veterinary drugs 

requiring approval by CAC; 

• Discussion paper on extrapolation of 

MRLs to one or more species (including a 

pilot on extrapolation of MRLs identified in 

Part D of the Priority List); 

• Coordination with the Codex Committee 

on Pesticide Residues/Electronic Working 

Group on the revision of the Classification of 

Food and Feed for the development of a 

harmonized definition for edible offal/animal 

tissues for the establishment of MRLs; 

• Database on countries needs for MRLs; 

and 

• Discussion paper on advantages and 

disadvantages of a parallel approach to 

compound evaluation. 

The following items were discontinued: 

• Discussion paper on the revision of the 

criteria for the use of multi-residue analytical 

methods for the determination and 

identification of veterinary drugs in foods in 

the Guidelines for the design and 

implementation of national regulatory food 

safety assurance programs associated with 

the use of veterinary drugs in food producing 

animals; and 

• Discussion paper on MRLs for groups of 

fish species. 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA/Center 

for Veterinary Medicine; USDA/FSIS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods 

The Codex Committee on Contaminants in 

Foods (CCCF) establishes or endorses 

permitted maximum levels (MLs), as 

necessary, revises existing guideline levels 

(GLs) for contaminants and naturally 

occurring toxicants in food and feed; 

prepares priority lists of contaminants and 

naturally occurring toxicants for risk 

assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert 

Committee on Food Additives (JECFA); 

considers and elaborates methods of analysis 

and sampling for the determination of 

contaminants and naturally occurring 

toxicants in food and feed; considers and 

elaborates on standards or codes of practice 

(COPs) for related subjects; and considers 

other matters assigned to it by the 

Commission in relation to contaminants and 

naturally occurring toxicants in food and 

feed. 

The Committee convened for its 12th 

Session (CCCF12) in Utrecht, the 

Netherlands, March 12–16, 2018. The 

relevant document is REP18/CF. The 

following standards were forwarded to the 

CAC for consideration and adopted by the 

41st Session of the Commission in July 2018: 

Adopted at Step 5/8: 

• MLs for lead in selected commodities 

(revision of MLs and consequential 

revocation of corresponding MLs/ 

amendments to MLs in the General Standard 

for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and 

Feed (GSCTFF) (CXS 193–1995)); 

• MLs for cadmium in chocolate 

containing or declaring ≥50% to <70% total 

cocoa solids on a dry matter basis; and 

chocolate containing or declaring ≥70% total 

cocoa solids on a dry matter basis; 

• MLs for methylmercury in tuna, 

alfonsino, marlin and shark, and revocation 

of the GLs for methylmercury in predatory 

and non-predatory fish; 

• Amendment to the note for the ML on 

inorganic arsenic in rice (consequential 

amendment); and 

• COP for the prevention and reduction of 

dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxinlike polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) 

contamination in food and feed. 

Adopted at Step 5: 

• COP for the reduction of 3–MCPDE and 

GE in refined oils and products made with 

refined oils; and 

• Guidelines for risk analysis of instances 

of contaminants in food where there is no 

regulatory level or risk management 

framework established. 

The Commission also approved 

discontinuation of work on the following 

items, as recommended by CCCF12: 

• Establishment of MLs for cadmium in 

dry mixtures of cocoa and sugars sold for 

final consumption; and 

• Establishment of MLs for methylmercury 

in amberjack and swordfish. 

The Committee suspended working on the 

following items: 

• Establishment of MLs for total aflatoxins 

in ready-to-eat peanuts; and 

• Establishment of MLs for total aflatoxins 

and ochratoxin A in nutmeg, chili and 

paprika, ginger, pepper and turmeric. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• MLs for lead in wine and edible offals; 

• MLs for cadmium in chocolate and 

cocoa-derived products (category of 

chocolate and chocolate products containing 

or declaring (1) <30% and (2) ≥30% to <50% 

total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis; 

• Discussion paper on establishment of 

MLs for hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in cassava 

and cassava-based products and occurrence 

of mycotoxins in these products; 

• Discussion paper on structured approach 

to prioritize commodities for which new MLs 

for lead could be established for inclusion in 

the General Standard for Contaminants and 

Toxins in Food and Feed; 

• Discussion paper on aflatoxins in cereals 

(establishment of MLs for total aflatoxins in 

wheat, maize, sorghum and rice (specifying 

the categories)); 

• Discussion paper on development of a 

COP for the prevention and reduction of 

cadmium contamination in cocoa; 

• Discussion paper on forward workplan 

for CCCF; and 

• Priority list of contaminants and 

naturally occurring toxicants for evaluation 

by JECFA. 

The Committee also agreed to start 

discussion on the following items: 

• Discussion paper on lead and cadmium 

in quinoa; 

• Discussion paper on general guidance on 

data analysis for ML development; and 

• Discussion paper, including a project 

document, for a proposal for new work on 

the revision of the COP for prevention and 

reduction of lead contamination in foods 

(CXC 56–2004). 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ 

FSIS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Food Additives 

The Codex Committee on Food Additives 

(CCFA) establishes or endorses acceptable 

maximum levels (MLs) for individual food 

additives; prepares a priority list of food 

additives for risk assessment by the Joint 

FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food 

Additives (JECFA); assigns functional classes 

to individual food additives; recommends 

specifications of identity and purity for food 

additives for adoption by the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission; considers 

methods of analysis for the determination of 

additives in food; and considers and 

elaborates standards or codes of practice for 

related subjects such as the labeling of food 

additives when sold as such. The 50th 

Session of the Committee (CCFA50) 

convened in Xiamen, China, March 26–30, 

2018. The relevant document is REP18/FA. 

Immediately prior to the Plenary Session, 

there was a two-day physical Working Group 

(PWG) on the General Standard for Food 

Additives (GSFA) chaired by the United 

States. 

The following items were recommended by 

CCFA50 and considered by the 41st Session 

of the Commission in July 2018: 

Adopted at Step 5/8: 

• Proposed draft specifications for the 

identity and purity of food additives; and 

• Proposed draft amendments to the Class 

Names and International Numbering System 

(INS) for Food Additives (CAC/GL 36–1989). 

Adopted at Step 8 and 5/8: 

• Draft and proposed draft food additive 

provisions of the GSFA. 

Adopted: 

• Replacement of the name ‘‘sodium 

aluminosilicate’’ with ‘‘sodium aluminum 

silicate’’ in the GSFA (CXS 192–1995); Class 

Names and the INS for Food Additives (CXG 

36–1989); Standard for Milk Powders and 

Cream Powder (CXS 207–1999); Standard for 

a Blend of Skimmed Milk and Vegetable Fat 

in Powdered Form (CXS 251–2006); and 

Standard for Edible Casein Products (CXS 

290–1995); 

• Revised food additive provisions of the 

GSFA related to the alignment of the annexes 

of the Standard for Certain Canned Fruits 


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(CXS 319–2015) and to the alignment of 14 

standards for fish and fish products; and 

• Revised food additive sections of 14 

standards for fish and fish products and the 

Standard for Certain Canned Fruits (CXS 

319–2015). 

Revoked: 

• Food additive provisions of the GSFA; 

• Food-additive provisions for specific 

malates and/or tartrates from the Standards 

for Mozzarella (CXS 262–2006), Cottage 

Cheese (CXS 273–1968), Cream Cheese (CXS 

275–1973), Fermented Milks (CXS 243–2003), 

and Dairy Fat Spreads (CXS 253–2006) due 

to a lack of JECFA specifications for these 

additives; and 

• Food-additive provisions for sodium 

sorbate (INS 201) from the Standards for 

Instant Noodles (CXS 249–2006), Fermented 

Milks (CXS 243–2003), Dairy Fat Spreads 

(CXS 253–2006), Cottage Cheese (CXS 273– 

1968), Cream Cheese (CXS 275–1973), the 

General Standard for Cheese (CXS 283–197), 

and 11 standards for named cheeses due to 

a lack of JECFA specifications for the 

additive. 

The Committee will continue working on: 

• Draft and proposed draft food additive 

provisions of the GSFA, and technological 

justification for the use of preservatives and 

anticaking agents for surface treatment of 

mozzarella with high moisture content 

covered by Standard for Mozzarella (CXS 

262–2006) (EWG led by the United States); 

• Proposals for additions and changes to 

the Priority List of Substances Proposed for 

Evaluation by JECFA (PWG led by Canada); 

• Alignment of the food additive 

provisions of commodity standards and 

relevant provisions of the GSFA; consider 

revisions to the ‘‘References to Commodity 

Standard for GSFA Table 3 Additives’’ 

section of Table 3; proposed revisions to 

food-additive provisions in Food Categories 

13.1.1, 13.1.2, and 13.1.3 for ascorbyl 

palmitate (INS 304) and ascorbyl stearate 

(INS 305) (EWG led by Australia, Japan and 

the United States); 

• Revision of the Class Names and the INS 

for Food additives (EWG led by Iran and 

Belgium); 

• New or revised provisions of the GSFA 

(PWG led by the United States); 

• Clarification of the appropriate 

descriptors for Food Categories 14.1.4.2 and 

14.1.5 for ready-to-drink coffee and tea 

beverages (Codex Secretariat); 

• Review of all group food additives in the 

GSFA to determine if all food-additives in 

the group share a Group Acceptable Daily 

Intake (Codex Secretariat in consultation 

with JECFA Secretariat); 

• Development of an inventory of data 

available on the use of nitrates (INS 251, 252) 

and nitrites (INS 249, 250) with a view to 

consulting with JECFA and CCFA regarding 

next steps (eWG led by the European Union 

and the Netherlands); 

• Development of an alternative to Note 

161 relating to the use of sweeteners and, 

subject to agreement on the wording of an 

alternative, review of recommendations in 

CX FA 14/47/13 in the context of pending 

and adopted provisions (EWG led by United 

States and the European Union); and 

• Preparation of a discussion paper on the 

use of the terms ‘‘fresh’’, ‘‘plain’’, 

‘‘unprocessed’’ and ‘‘untreated’’ in existing 

Codex texts (Russian Federation). 

The Committee also agreed to hold a one 

and one-half day PWG on the GSFA 

immediately preceding the 51st Session of 

the CCFA, to be chaired by the United States. 

That group will discuss the 

recommendations of the EWG on the GSFA, 

new proposals and proposed revisions of 

food additive provisions in the GSFA. 

The Committee also agreed to hold a half 

day PWG on the GSFA immediately 

preceding the 51st Session of the CCFA to be 

chaired by Australia. That group will discuss 

the recommendations of the PWG on 

alignment. 

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues 

The Codex Committee on Pesticide 

Residues (CCPR) is responsible for 

establishing MRLs for pesticide residues in 

specific food items or in groups of food; 

establishing MRLs for pesticide residues in 

certain animal feeding stuffs moving in 

international trade where this is justified for 

reasons of protection of human health; 

preparing priority lists of pesticides for 

evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting 

on Pesticide Residues (JMPR); considering 

methods of sampling and analysis for the 

determination of pesticide residues in food 

and feed; considering other matters in 

relation to the safety of food and feed 

containing pesticide residues; and 

establishing maximum limits for 

environmental and industrial contaminants 

showing chemical or other similarity to 

pesticides in specific food items or groups of 

food. 

The 50th Session of the Committee 

(CCPR50) met in Haikou, China, April 9–14, 

2018. The relevant document is REP18/PR. 

The following items were considered at the 

41st Session of the Codex Alimentarius 

Commission in July 2018: 

Adopted at Step 8 and 5/8: 

• Three hundred eighty-six (386) MRLs for 

different pesticide residues. 

• Revisions of the Classification: Class A— 

Primary Commodities of Plant Origin—Type 

04 Nuts, Seeds, and SAPs (Step 8 and 5/8); 

• Revision of the Classification: Class APrimary Commodities of Plant Origin—Type 

05 Herbs and Spices (Step 8). 

Adopted at Step 5/8: 

• Tables with Examples of Representative 

Commodities for Commodity Groups in Type 

04 and Type 05 (For inclusion in the 

Principles and Guidance for the Selection of 

Representative Commodities for the 

Extrapolation of Maximum Residue Limits 

for Pesticides for Commodity Groups). 

The Commission also discontinued work, 

approved new work, and revoked existing 

MRLs as recommended by CCPR50. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Revision of the Classification: Impact of 

the Revised Commodity Groups and 

Subgroups in Type 03, Type 04 and Type 05 

on the CXLs adopted by the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission; 

• Draft and proposed draft Revision of the 

Classification of Food and Feed; 

• Development of a system within the 

classification of food and feed to provide 

codes for commodities not meeting the 

criteria for crop grouping; 

• Discussion Paper on the review of the 

International Estimated Short-term Intake 

Equations (IESTI); 

• Discussion paper on management of 

unsupported compounds; 

• Discussion paper on biopesticides; 

• Discussion paper on the revision of the 

guidelines on the use of mass spectrometry 

for the identification, confirmation and 

quantitative determination of residues; 

• Discussion paper on the opportunities 

and challenges related to the participation of 

JMPR in an international joint review of a 

new compounds; 

• National Registration Database of 

Pesticides; and 

• Establishment of Codex Schedules and 

Priority Lists of Pesticides. 

Responsible Agencies: EPA; USDA/FSIS. 

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 

(CCFICS) is responsible for developing 

principles and guidelines for food import and 

export inspection and certification systems, 

with a view to harmonizing methods and 

procedures that protect the health of 

consumers, ensure fair trading practices, and 

facilitate international trade in foodstuffs; 

developing principles and guidelines for the 

application of measures by the competent 

authorities of exporting and importing 

countries to provide assurance, where 

necessary, that foodstuffs comply with 

requirements, especially statutory health 

requirements; developing guidelines for the 

utilization, as and when appropriate, of 

quality assurance systems to ensure that 

foodstuffs conform with requirements and 

promote the recognition of these systems in 

facilitating trade in food products under 

bilateral/multilateral arrangements by 

countries; developing guidelines and criteria 

with respect to format, declarations, and 

language of such official certificates as 

countries may require with a view towards 

international harmonization; making 

recommendations for information exchange 

in relation to food import/export control; 

consulting as necessary with other 

international groups working on matters 

related to food inspection and certification 

systems; and considering other matters 

assigned to it by the Commission in relation 

to food inspection and certification systems. 

The 24th Session of the Committee will 

convene in Brisbane, Australia, October 22– 

26, 2018. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Project document for new work on 

guidance on paperless use of electronic 

certificates (Revision of Guidelines for 

Design, Production, Issuance and Use of 

Generic Official Certificates); 

• Project document for new work on 

guidance on regulatory approaches to third 

party assurance schemes in food safety and 

fair practices in the food trade; 


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• Discussion paper on food integrity and 

food authenticity; 

• Discussion paper on consideration of 

emerging issues and future directions for the 

work of the Codex Committee on Food 

Import and Export Inspection and 

Certification Systems; 

• Framework for the preliminary 

assessment and identification of priority 

areas for CCFICs; and 

• Inter-sessional physical working groups: 

trial. 

Responsible Agencies: USDA/FSIS; HHS/ 

FDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis 

and Sampling 

The Codex Committee on Methods of 

Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) defines the 

criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of 

Analysis and Sampling; serves as a 

coordinating body for Codex with other 

international groups working on methods of 

analysis and sampling and quality assurance 

systems for laboratories; specifies, on the 

basis of final recommendations submitted to 

it by the bodies referred to above, reference 

methods of analysis and sampling 

appropriate to Codex standards which are 

generally applicable to a number of foods; 

considers, amends if necessary, and endorses 

as appropriate, methods of analysis and 

sampling proposed by Codex commodity 

committees, except for 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; elaborates sampling plans and 

procedures, as may be required; considers 

specific sampling and analysis problems 

submitted to it by the Commission or any of 

its Committees; and defines procedures, 

protocols, guidelines or related texts for the 

assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as 

well as quality assurance systems for 

laboratories. 

The 39th Session of the Committee 

(CCMAS39) met in Budapest, Hungary, May 

7–11, 2018. The relevant document is REP18/ 

MAS. 

At its 41st Session in July 2018, the 

Commission adopted, amended and revoked 

methods of analysis and sampling as 

recommended by CCMAS39. The 

Commission also approved new work as 

proposed by CCMAS: 

• Revision of the Guidelines on 

Measurement Uncertainty (CXG 54–2004); 

and 

• Project plan and amendment of the 

General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50– 

2004). 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following item: 

• Review/Revision of the General Standard 

for Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CSX 

234. 

At CCMAS 39, the Committee agreed to 

discontinue work on criteria for endorsement 

of biological methods to detect chemicals of 

concern. 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ 

AMS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Food Labelling 

The Codex Committee on Food Labelling 

(CCFL) drafts provisions on labeling 

applicable to all foods; considers, amends, 

and endorses draft specific provisions on 

labeling prepared by the Codex Committees 

drafting standards, codes of practice, 

guidelines; and studies specific labeling 

problems assigned by the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission. The Committee 

also studies problems associated with the 

advertisement of food with particular 

reference to claims and misleading 

descriptions. 

The Committee convened its 44th Session 

(CCFL44) in Asuncion, Paraguay, October 

16–20, 2017. The relevant document is 

REP18/FL. The following item was adopted 

by the Commission at its 41st Session in July 

2018, as recommended by CCFL44: 

Adopted at Step 8: 

• Draft Revision of the General Standard 

for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: Date 

marking. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Proposed draft Guidance for the 

Labelling of Non-Retail Containers; 

• Proposed draft Guidelines on Front of 

Pack Nutrition Labelling; 

• Discussion paper on internet sales/ecommerce; 

• Discussion paper on allergen labelling; 

• Discussion paper on innovation—use of 

technology in food labelling; 

• Discussion paper on labelling of 

alcoholic beverages; 

• Discussion paper on criteria for the 

definition of ‘‘high in’’ nutritional descriptors 

for fats, sugars and sodium; 

• Discussion paper on labelling of foods in 

joint presentation and multipack formats; 

and 

• Discussion paper on future work and 

direction of CCFL (update). 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ 

FSIS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene 

The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene 

(CCFH): 

• Develops basic provisions on food 

hygiene, applicable to all food or to specific 

food types; 

• Considers and amends or endorses 

provisions on food hygiene contained in 

Codex commodity standards and codes of 

practice developed by Codex commodity 

committees; 

• Considers specific food hygiene 

problems assigned to it by the Commission; 

• Suggests and prioritizes areas where 

there is a need for microbiological risk 

assessment at the international level and 

develops questions to be addressed by the 

risk assessors; and 

• Considers microbiological risk 

management matters in relation to food 

hygiene and in relation to the FAO/WHO risk 

assessments. 

The Committee convened for its 49th 

Session (CCFH49) in Chicago, Illinois, 

November 13–17, 2017. The relevant 

document is REP 18/FH. The following item 

was adopted by the 41st Session of the 

Commission in July 2018, as recommended 

by CCFH49: 

Adopted at Step 5/8: 

• Proposed draft Revision of the Code of 

Practice (COP) for Fish and Fishery Products 

(Guidance for histamine control), with minor 

amendment accepted to section 13.1.2. 

The Commission also approved new work 

as recommended by CCFH49: 

• Code of Practice on food allergen 

management for food business operators; and 

• Guidance for the management of 

(micro)biological foodborne crises/outbreaks. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Proposed draft Revision of the General 

Principles of Food Hygiene and its HACCP 

Annex; 

• The placement for the guidance on 

histamine control in CXC 52–2003, the 

amendments of other sections of CXC 52– 

3002, and the revision of the section on 

sampling, examination and analyses in 

standards for fish and fishery products 

related to histamine food safety; 

• Discussion paper on future work on 

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli 

(STEC); and 

• New work proposals/Forward Workplan. 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ 

FSIS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and 

Vegetables 

The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and 

Vegetables (CCFFV) is responsible for 

elaborating worldwide standards and codes 

of practice, as may be appropriate, for fresh 

fruits and vegetables, consulting as 

necessary, with other international 

organizations in the standards development 

process to avoid duplication. 

The 20th Session of the Committee 

(CCFFV20) met in Kampala, Uganda, October 

2–6, 2017. The relevant document is REP 18/ 

FFV. 

The following items were considered by 

the Commission at its 40th Session in July 

2018, and the Commission took action as 

recommended by CCFFV20: 

Adopted at Step 8: 

• Draft Standard for Aubergines. 

Adopted at Step 5: 

• Draft Standard for Ware Potatoes. 

Approved new work: 

• Standards for yam, onions and shallots, 

and berry fruits. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Proposed Layout for Standards for Fresh 

Fruits and Vegetables; 

• Draft Standard for Garlic; 

• Draft Standard for Kiwifruit; 

• Draft Standard for Ware Potatoes; 

• Proposed Draft Standard for Fresh Dates; 

• Discussion paper on glossary of terms 

used in the layout for Codex standards for 

fresh fruits and vegetables; and 

• Recommendation on the inclusion of 

mono and di-glycerides of fatty acids and 

salts of myristic, palmitic and stearic acids 

with ammonia, calcium, potassium and 

sodium in the GSFA under the food 

categories ‘‘surface-treated fresh fruits’’ and 

‘‘surface treated fresh vegetables.’’ 


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Responsible Agencies: USDA/Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS); HHS/FDA. 

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 (CCNFSDU) is 

responsible for studying nutrition issues 

referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius 

Commission. The Committee also drafts 

general provisions, as appropriate, on 

nutritional aspects of all foods and develops 

standards, guidelines, and related texts for 

foods for special dietary uses, in cooperation 

with other committees where necessary; 

considers, amends if necessary, and endorses 

provisions on nutritional aspects proposed 

for inclusion in Codex standards, guidelines, 

and related texts. 

The Committee convened for its 39th 

Session (CCNFSDU) in Berlin, Germany, 

December 4–8, 2017. The reference document 

is REP 18/NFSDU. The following item was 

adopted by the Commission at its 41st 

Session in July 2–6, 2018, as recommended 

by CCNFSDU39. 

Adopted at Step 5: 

• Review of the Standard for Follow-up 

Formula: Proposed ‘‘Essential composition 

requirements for older infants and young 

children.’’ 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Proposed draft Claim for ‘‘free of’’ trans 

fatty acids; 

• Discussion of biological methods used to 

detect chemicals of concern; 

• Review of the Standard for Follow-up 

Formula: Scope, product definition, 

labelling; 

• Proposed draft definition for 

biofortification; 

• Proposed draft Nutrient Reference 

Values—Noncommunicable Disease (NRV– 

NCD) for EPA and DHA; 

• Proposed draft guideline for ready to use 

therapeutic foods; 

• Nutrient Reference Values— 

Requirements (NRV–R) for older infants and 

young children; 

• Mechanism/framework for considering 

the technological justification of food 

additives; 

• Discussion paper on harmonized 

probiotic guidelines for use in foods and 

dietary supplements; and 

• General guidelines to establish 

nutritional profiles. 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ 

Agricultural Research Service (ARS). 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task 

Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (reactivated in 2016). 

The Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task 

Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR) 

is responsible for (1) reviewing and revising, 

as appropriate, the Code of Practice to 

Minimize and Contain Antimicrobial 

Resistance (CAC/RCP 61–2005) to address 

the entire food chain, in line with the 

mandate of Codex; and (2) considering the 

development of Guidance on Integrated 

Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance, 

taking into account the guidance developed 

by the WHO Advisory Group on Integrated 

Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance 

(AGISAR) and relevant World Organisation 

for Animal Health (OIE) documents. The 

objective of the Task Force is to develop 

science-based guidance on the management 

of foodborne antimicrobial resistance, taking 

full account of the WHO Global Action Plan 

on Antimicrobial Resistance, in particular 

objectives 3 and 4, the work and standards 

of relevant international organizations, such 

as FAO, WHO, and OIE, and the One-Health 

approach, to ensure members have the 

necessary guidance to enable coherent 

management of antimicrobial resistance 

along the food chain. The Task Force is 

expected to complete its work within three 

(or a maximum of four) sessions. 

The Task Force will convene for its 6th 

Session (the 2nd Session since reactivation in 

2016) in the Republic of Korea, December 

10–14, 2018. 

The Committee will continue to discuss: 

• The Proposed draft Revision of the Code 

of Practice to Minimize and Contain 

Antimicrobial Resistance; 

• Proposed draft Guidelines on Integrated 

surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance; and 

• Request for Scientific Advice from Food 

and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and 

World Health Organization (WHO) in 

collaboration with OIE. 

Responsible Agencies: FDA/USDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils 

The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils 

(CCFO) is responsible for elaborating 

worldwide standards for fats and oils of 

animal, vegetable, and marine origin, 

including margarine and olive oil. 

The Committee will convene in 2019 for its 

26th Session. 

The Committee will continue working on 

the following items: 

• Revision of the Standard for Named 

Vegetable Oils: Essential composition of 

sunflower seed oils; 

• Revision of the Standard for Named 

Vegetable Oils: Inclusion of walnut oil, 

almond oil, hazelnut oil, pistachio oil, 

flaxseed oil, and avocado oil; 

• Revision of the Standard for Named 

Vegetable Oils: Replacement of acid value 

with free fatty acids for virgin palm oil and 

inclusion of free fatty acids for crude palm 

kernel oil; and 

• Revision of the Standard for Olive Oils 

and Pomace Olive Oils (Codex Stan 33– 

1981). 

• Gathering information on technical 

difficulties in the implementation of the fish 

oil standard, specifically on monitoring its 

application with respect to the conformity of 

named fish oils with the requirements 

(especially the fatty acid profile), and its 

effect on trade; 

• Alignment of food additives provisions 

in standards for fats and oils (except fish oils) 

and technological justification for use of 

emulsifiers; 

• Proposals for new substances to be 

added to the list of acceptable previous 

cargoes; 

• Provision of relevant information (if 

available from Member countries) to the Joint 

FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food 

Additives (JECFA) on the 23 substances on 

the list of acceptable previous cargoes 

currently on the list; and 

• Discussion paper on the applicability of 

the fatty acid composition of all oils listed in 

Table 1 in relation to the fatty acid 

composition of corresponding crude 

(unrefined) forms in the Standard for Named 

Vegetable Oils. 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ 

Agricultural Research Service (ARS). 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and 

Vegetables 

The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits 

and Vegetables (CCPFV) is responsible for 

elaborating worldwide standards and related 

texts for all types of processed fruits and 

vegetables including, but not limited to 

canned, dried, and frozen products, as well 

as fruit and vegetable juices and nectars. 

Proposals for new work were received by 

Executive Committee of the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC) and 

approved by CAC40 (July 17–22, 2017) for 

cashew kernels, chili sauce, mango chutney, 

dried sweet potato, gochujang, dried fruits, 

and canned mixed fruits. 

The Commission authorized CCPFV to 

work by correspondence until CAC 41 (2018) 

to prioritize the proposals for new work, 

prepare a work plan, and prepare 

recommendations on the establishment of 

electronic working groups. The Commission 

at its 41st Session in July 2018 endorsed the 

CCPFV Chairperson’s proposed work plan 

and recommendations (1) to establish 7 

EWGS to prepare proposed drafts for 

comments and consideration by the CCPFV, 

and (2) to schedule a physical meeting of the 

Committee at an appropriate time. 

Responsible Agencies: USDA/Agricultural 

Marketing Service; HHS/FDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Sugars 

The Codex Committee on Sugars (CCS) 

elaborates worldwide standards for all types 

of sugars and sugar products. 

The Committee has been re-activated to 

work by correspondence on a draft Standard 

for Non-Centrifuged Dehydrated Sugar Cane 

Juice. The work is behind schedule. The 

Commission at its 41st Session in July 2018 

agreed to extend the work by correspondence 

by one year, reporting back to the 

Commission at its 42nd session, and noted 

the possibility that a physical meeting could 

be convened. 

Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and 

Legumes 

The Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses 

and Legumes (CCCPL) elaborates worldwide 

standards and/or codes of practice, as 

appropriate, for cereals, pulses and legumes 

and their products. 

The Committee has been reactivated to 

work by correspondence to draft an 

international Codex Standard for quinoa. The 

following item was considered by the 

Commission at its 41st Session in July 2018: 

• Standard for Quinoa 

The Commission agreed to adopt, subject 

to the endorsement of the labelling 


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provisions by CCFL45, the draft standard for 

quinoa at Step 8, except for the provisions for 

moisture content and grain size, which were 

returned to Step 6. The Commission also 

established an EWG, chaired by Costa Rica 

and co-chaired by Chile and the United 

States of America, to continue the work on 

the provisions for moisture content and grain 

size. The Commission further encouraged 

members to identify a validated method of 

analysis for saponins to allow for full 

implementation of the standard. 

Responsible Agencies: 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: 

• Cocoa Products and Chocolate— 

adjourned 2001. 

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; DCO/ 

NOAA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

• Fish and Fishery Products—adjourned 

2016. 

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA/NOAA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

• Meat Hygiene—adjourned 2003. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

• Milk and Milk Products—adjourned 

2017. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS; HHS/ 

FDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

• Natural Mineral Waters—adjourned 

2008. 

Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

• Vegetable Proteins—adjourned 1989. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating 

Committees 

The FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating 

Committees define the problems and needs of 

the regions concerning food standards and 

food control; promote within the Committee 

contacts for the mutual exchange of 

information on proposed regulatory 

initiatives and problems arising from food 

control and stimulate the strengthening of 

food control infrastructures; recommend to 

the Commission the development of 

worldwide standards for products of interest 

to the region, including products considered 

by the Committees to have an international 

market potential in the future; develop 

regional standards for food products moving 

exclusively or almost exclusively in intraregional trade; draw the attention of the 

Commission to any aspects of the 

Commission’s work of particular significance 

to the region; promote coordination of all 

regional food standards work undertaken by 

international governmental and nongovernmental organizations within each 

region; exercise a general coordinating role 

for the region and such other functions as 

may be entrusted to them by the 

Commission; and promote the use of Codex 

standards and related texts by members. 

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 

Coordinating Committee for Africa 

The Committee (CCAFRICA) will convene 

its 23rd Session in 2019. 

The Committee will continue to work on 

the following items: 

• Proposed draft Regional Standard for 

Unrefined Shea Butter; 

• Proposed draft Regional Standard for 

Fermented Cooked Cassava Based Products; 

• Proposed draft Regional Standard for 

Gnetum Spp leaves; 

• Priority Setting criteria for the 

establishment of work priorities as laid down 

in the Codex Procedural Manual; 

• Comments on the preparation of the new 

global Codex Strategic Plan; 

• Food quality and safety situation in 

countries of the Region (on-line platform, 

prioritization of needs in the region and 

comments for future consideration); 

• Use of Codex Standards in the Region; 

• Proposed draft Standard on Dried Meat; 

• Discussion paper and project document 

on a Harmonized Food Law; and 

• Discussion paper/project on a Regional 

Standard for a Fermented Non-Alcoholic 

Cereal Based Drink (Mahewu). 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: Yes (as observer). 

Coordinating Committee for Asia 

The Committee (CCASIA) will convene its 

21st Session in 2019. 

The Committee will continue to work on 

the following items: 

• Report on the status of the 

Implementation of the Activities of the 

Strategic Plan Relevant to CCASIA; 

• Discussion paper and project document 

on the Development of a Regional Standard 

for Rice Based Low Alcohol Beverages 

(cloudy types); 

• Discussion paper and project document 

on the Development of a Regional Standard 

for Soybean Products Fermented with the 

Bacterium Bacillus Subtilis; 

• Discussion paper and project document 

on the Development of a Regional Standard 

for Quick Frozen Dumpling (Jiaozi); 

• Discussion paper and the project 

document on the Development of a Regional 

Standard/Code of Practice for Zongzi; 

• Emerging Issues as priorities for the 

CCASIA region; and 

• Information sharing on the Food Safety 

Control Systems. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: Yes (as observer). 

Coordinating Committee for Europe 

The Committee (CCEUROPE) will convene 

its 31st Session in 2019. 

The Committee will continue to work on 

the following items: 

• Survey of critical and emerging issues; 

• On-line Platform and information 

sharing on the Food Safety Control Systems; 

• Survey on the use of Codex Standards; 

• Relevant languages of the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission in the work of 

CCEUROPE; and 

• Funding translation and interpretation 

services into Russian for the effective 

operation of CCEUROPE. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: Yes (as observer). 

Coordinating Committee for Latin America 

and the Caribbean 

The Coordinating Committee for Latin 

America and the Caribbean (CCLAC) will 

convene its 21st in 2019. 

The Committee will continue to work on 

the following items: 

• Monitoring of the Strategic Plan for 

CCLAC; 

• Critical and Emerging Issues and 

prioritization of CCLAC issues within the 

framework of Codex; 

• Comments on the Food Safety Control 

Systems Platform; 

• Cross-cutting topics for the region, 

proposed draft standards and seeking 

regional support; and 

• Proposal for the Development of a 

Standard for Yams. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: Yes (as observer). 

Coordinating Committee for the Near East 

The Coordinating Committee for the Near 

East (CCNEA) will convene its 10th Session 

in 2019. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: No. 

Coordinating Committee for North America 

and the South West Pacific (CCNASWP) 

The Committee (CCNASWP) will convene 

its 15th Session in 2019. 

The Committee will continue to work on 

the following items: 

• New work on the development of a 

Regional Standard for Kava as a beverage 

when mixed with cold water; 

• Recommendation that Vanuatu be reappointed as Coordinator for North America 

and the South West Pacific; 

• Proposed draft Regional Standard for 

Fermented Noni-Juice; and 

• Development of on-line platform for 

information on sharing food quality and 

safety systems. 

Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS/USCO. 

U.S. Participation: Yes. 

Contact: U.S. Codex Office, United States 

Department of Agriculture, Room 4861, 

South Agriculture Building, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 

20250–3700, Phone: (202) 205–7760, Fax: 

(202) 720–3157, Email: uscodex@

fsis.usda.gov. 

Attachment 2 

U.S. Codex Alimentarius Officials 

Codex Chairpersons From the United States 

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene 

Emilio Esteban, DVM, MBA, MPVM, Ph.D., 

Executive Associate for Laboratory 

Services, Office of Public Health Science, 

Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 950 College 

Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, Phone: 


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(706) 546–3429, Fax: (706) 546–3428, 

Email: emilio.esteban@fsis.usda.gov. 

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and 

Vegetables 

Richard Boyd, Chief, Contract Services 

Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection 

Division, Specialty Crops Program, 

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 

0247, Room 0726—South Building, 

Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 690– 

1201, Fax: (202) 690–1527, Email: 

richard.boyd@ams.usda.gov. 

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary 

Drugs in Foods 

Kevin Greenlees, Ph.D., DABT, Senior 

Advisor for Science and Policy, Office of 

New Animal Drug Evaluation, HFV–100, 

Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish 

Place, Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: (240) 

402–0638, Fax: (240) 276–9538, 

kevin.greenlees@fda.hhs.gov. 

U.S. Delegates and Alternate Delegates 

Worldwide General Codex Subject 

Committees 

Contaminants in Foods 

(Host Government—The Netherlands) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dr. Lauren Posnick Robin, Branch Chief, 

Plant Products Branch, Division of Plant 

Products and Beverages, Office of Food 

Safety (HFS–317), Center for Food Safety 

and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–1639, Lauren.Robin@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Dr. Terry Dutko, Ph.D., Laboratory Director, 

Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office 

of Public Health Science, U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, 4300 Goodfellow Building, 

105D Federal, St. Louis, MO 63120–0005, 

Phone: +1 (314) 263–2680, Extension 344, 

Tery.Dutko@fsis.usda.gov. 

Food Additives 

(Host Government—China) 

U.S. Delegate 

Paul S. Honigfort, Ph.D., Consumer Safety 

Officer, Division of Food Contact 

Notifications (HFS–275), Office of Food 

Additive Safety, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–1206, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2965, 

Paul.Honigfort@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Daniel Folmer, Ph.D., Chemist, Center for 

Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration, 5001 

Campus Drive, Room 3017 HFS–265, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–1274, Daniel.Folmer@fda.hhs.gov. 

Food Hygiene 

(Host Government—United States) 

U.S. Delegate 

Jenny Scott, Senior Advisor, Office of Food 

Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied 

Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, HFS– 

300, Room 3B–014, College Park, MD 

20740–3835, Phone: +1 (240) 402–2166, 

Fax: +1 (301) 436–2632, Jenny.Scott@

fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegates 

William Shaw, Director, Risk, Innovation and 

Management Staff, Food Safety and 

Inspection Service, 355 E Street SW, Room 

8–142, Patriots Plaza III, Washington, DC 

20024, Phone: +1 (301) 504–0852, 

William.Shaw@fsis.usda.gov. 

Andrew Chi Yuen Yeung, Ph.D., Branch 

Chief, Egg and Meat Products Branch, 

Division of Dairy, Egg and Meat Products, 

Office of Food Safety, Center for Food 

Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus 

Drive, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 

(240) 402–1541, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2632, 

Andrew.Yeung@fda.hhs.gov. 

Food Import and Export Certification and 

Inspection Systems 

(Host Government—Australia) 

U.S. Delegate 

Mary Stanley, Senior Advisor, Office of 

International Coordination, Food Safety 

and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW, Room 3151, Washington, DC 20250, 

Phone: +1 (202) 720–0287, Fax: +1 (202) 

690–3856, Mary.Stanley@fsis.usda.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Caroline Smith DeWaal, International Food 

Safety Policy Manager, Office of the Center 

Director, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, Room 

4A011, College Park, MD 20740–3835, 

Phone: +1 (240) 402–1242, 

Caroline.DeWaal@fda.hhs.gov. 

Food Labelling 

(Host Government—Canada) 

U.S. Delegate 

Douglas Balentine, Director, Office of 

Nutrition and Food Labelling, Center for 

Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration, 5001 

Campus Drive (HFS–830), College Park, 

MD 20740, +1 240 402 2373, Fax: +1 (301) 

436–2636, Douglas.Balentine@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Jeffrey Canavan, Deputy Director, Labeling 

and Program Delivery Staff, Food Safety 

and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW—Mail Stop 5273, Patriots Plaza III, 8th 

Floor–161A, Washington, DC 20250, 

Phone: +1 (301) 504–0860, Fax: +1 (202) 

245–4792, Jeff.Canavan@fsis.usda.gov. 

General Principles 

(Host Government—France) 

Delegate Note: A member of the Steering 

Committee heads the delegation to meetings 

of the General Principles Committee. 

Methods of Analysis and Sampling 

(Host Government—Hungary) 

U.S. Delegate 

Gregory Noonan, Director, Division of 

Bioanalytical Chemistry, Division of 

Analytical Chemistry, Center for Food 

Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and 

Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–2250, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2332, 

Gregory.Noonan@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Dr. Timothy Norden, Technology and 

Science Division, Federal Grain Inspection 

Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10383 N 

Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153, 

Phone: +1 (816) 891–0470, Fax: +1 (816) 

872–1253, Timothy.D.Norden@

ams.usda.gov. 

Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses 

(Host Government—Germany) 

U.S. Delegate 

Douglas Balentine, Director, Office of 

Nutrition and Food Labelling, Center for 

Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration, 5001 

Campus Drive (HFS–830), College Park, 

MD 20740, +1 240 402 2373, Fax: +1 (301) 

436–2636, Douglas.Balentine@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Pamela R. Pehrsson, Ph.D., Research Leader, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient 

Data Laboratory, Room 105, Building 005, 

BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, 

Beltsville, MD 20705, 301.504.0630 (voice), 

301.504.0632 (fax), Pamela.Pehrsson@

ars.usda.gov. 

Pesticide Residues 

(Host Government—China) 

U.S. Delegate 

Captain David Miller, Chief, Chemistry and 

Exposure Branch, and acting Chief, 

Toxicology and Epidemiology Branch, 

Health Effects Division, William Jefferson 

Clinton Building, 1200 Pennsylvania 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, 

Phone: +1 (703) 305–5352, Fax: +1 (703) 

305–5147, Miller.Davidj@epa.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Dr. John Johnston, Scientific Liaison/ 

Chemist, Food Safety and Inspection 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

2150 Centre Avenue, Building D, Suite 

320, Fort Collins, CO 80526, Phone: (202) 

365–7175, John.Johnston@fsis.usda.gov. 

Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods 

(Host Government—United States) 

U.S. Delegate 

Ms. Brandi Robinson, MPH, CPH, ONADE 

International Coordinator, Center for 

Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 7500 Standish Place 

(HFV–100), Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: 

+1 (240) 402–0645, Brandi.Robinson@

fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Vacant 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Notices 39049 

Worldwide Commodity Codex Committees 

(Active) 

Cereals, Pulses and Legumes 

(Host Government—United States) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dr. Henry Kim, Senior Policy Analyst, Office 

of Food Safety, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive (HFS– 

317), College Park, MD, USA 20740–3835, 

Phone: +1 (240) 402–2023, henry.kim@

fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Mr. Patrick McCluskey, Supervisory 

Agricultural Marketing Specialist, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Agricultural 

Marketing Service, Federal Grain 

Inspection Service, 10383 N Ambassador 

Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153, Phone: +1 

(816) 659–8403, Patrick.J.Mccluskey@

ams.usda.gov. 

Fats and Oils 

(Host Government—Malaysia) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dr. Paul South, Director, Division of Plant 

Products and Beverages, Office of Food 

Safety (HFS–317), Center for Food Safety 

and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740–3835, Phone: +1 

(240) 402–1640, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2632, 

Paul.South@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Robert A. Moreau, Ph.D., Research Leader, 

Eastern Regional Research Center, 

Agricultural Research Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 600 East 

Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, 

Phone: +1 (215) 233–6428, Fax: +1 (215) 

233–6406, Robert.Moreau@ars.usda.gov. 

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 

(Host Government—Mexico) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dorian LaFond, International Standards 

Coordinator, Fruit and Vegetables Program, 

Specialty Crop Inspection Division, 

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW—Mail Stop 

0247, Washington, DC 20250–0247, Phone: 

+1 (202) 690–4944, Fax: +1 (202) 690– 

1527, Dorian.Lafond@usda.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

David T. Ingram, Ph.D., Consumer Safety 

Officer, Office of Food Safety, Fresh 

Produce Branch, Division of Produce 

Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied 

Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, Room 

3E027, College Park, MD 20740–3835, 

Phone: +1 (240) 402–0335, David.Ingram@

fda.hhs.gov. 

Processed Fruits and Vegetables 

(Host Government—United States) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dorian LaFond, International Standards 

Coordinator, Fruit and Vegetables Program, 

Specialty Crop Inspection Division, 

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW—Mail Stop 

0247, Washington, DC 20250–0247, Phone: 

+1 (202) 690–4944, Fax: +1 (202) 690– 

1527, Dorian.Lafond@usda.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Dr. Yinqing Ma, Branch Chief, Beverages 

Branch, Division of Plant Products and 

Beverages, Office of Food Safety (HFS– 

317), Center for Food Safety and Applied 

Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–2479, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2632, 

Yinqing.Ma@fda.hhs.gov. 

Spices and Culinary Herbs 

(Host Government—India) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dorian LaFond, International Standards 

Coordinator, Fruit and Vegetables Program, 

Specialty Crop Inspection Division, 

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW—Mail Stop 

0247, Washington, DC 20250–0247, Phone: 

+1 (202) 690–4944, Fax: +1 (202) 690– 

1527, Dorian.Lafond@usda.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Dr. Aparna Tatavarthy, Microbiologist, 

Spices and Seasoning Mixes Team, 

Division of Plant Products and Beverages, 

Office of Food Safety (HFS–317), Center for 

Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration, 5001 

Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20740, 

Phone: +1 (240) 402–1013, Fax: +1 (301) 

436–2632, Aparna.Tatavarthy@

fda.hhs.gov. 

Sugars 

(Host Government—United Kingdom) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dr. Chia-Pei Charlotte Liang, Chemist, Office 

of Food Safety, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–2785, Charlotte.Liang@fda.hhs.gov. 

Worldwide Ad Hoc Codex Task Forces 

(Active) 

Antimicrobial Resistance (Reactivated 2016) 

(Host Government—Republic of Korea) 

U.S. Delegate 

Donald A. Prater, DVM, Assistant 

Commissioner for Food Safety Integration, 

Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, 

Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 

Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 

20993, Phone: +1–301–348–3007, 

Donald.Prater@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Neena Anandaraman, DVM, MPH, Veterinary 

Science Policy Advisor, Office of Chief 

Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 339A, 

1200 Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20024, Phone: +1 (202) 

260–8789, Neena.Anandaraman@

osec.usda.gov. 

Worldwide Commodity Codex Committees 

(Adjourned) 

Cocoa Products and Chocolate (adjourned 

sine die 2001) 

(Host Government—Switzerland) 

U.S. Delegate 

Michelle Smith, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, 

Office of Food Safety, Center for Food 

Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration (HFS–317), 

Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5001 

Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20740– 

3835, Phone: +1 (240) 402–2024, Fax: +1 

(301) 436–2632, Michelle.Smith@

fda.hhs.gov. 

Fish and Fishery Products (adjourned sine 

die 2016) 

(Host Government—Norway) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dr. William R. Jones, Deputy Director, Office 

of Food Safety (HFS–300), U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–2300, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2601, 

William.Jones@fda.hhs.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

Steven Wilson, Deputy Director, Office of 

International Affairs and Seafood 

Inspection, National Marine Fisheries 

Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, 1315 East-West Highway, 

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, Phone: +1 

(301) 427–8312 Steven.Wilson@noaa.gov. 

Meat Hygiene (adjourned sine die 2003) 

(Host Government—New Zealand) 

U.S. Delegate 

Vacant 

Milk and Milk Products (adjourned sine die 

2017) 

(Host Government—New Zealand) 

U.S. Delegate 

Christopher Thompson, Dairy 

Standardization Branch, Mail Stop 0230, 

Room 2756, Agricultural Marketing 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20250, Phone: +1 (202) 

720–9382, Fax: +1 (844) 804–4701, 

Christopher.D.Thompson@ams.usda.gov. 

Alternate Delegate 

John F. Sheehan, Director, Division of Dairy, 

Egg and Meat Product Safety, Office of 

Food Safety, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration (HFS–315), Harvey W. 

Wiley Federal Building, 5001 Campus 

Drive, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 

(240) 402–1488, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2632, 

John.Sheehan@fda.hhs.gov. 

Natural Mineral Waters (adjourned sine die 

2008) 

(Host Government—Switzerland) 

U.S. Delegate 

Dr. Yinqing Ma, Branch Chief, Beverages 

Branch, Division of Plant Products and 

Beverages, Office of Food Safety (HFS– 

317), Center for Food Safety and Applied 

Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
39050 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Notices 

Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, 

College Park, MD 20740, Phone: +1 (240) 

402–2479, Fax: +1 (301) 436–2632, 

Yinqing.Ma@fda.hhs.gov. 

Vegetable Proteins (adjourned sine die 1989) 

(Host Government—Canada) 

U.S. Delegate 

Vacant 

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces 

(Dissolved) 

Animal Feeding (Dissolved 2013) 

(Host government—Switzerland) 

U.S. Delegate 

Vacant 

[FR Doc. 2018–16944 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Tongass National Forest; Ketchikan 

Misty Fjords Ranger District; Alaska; 

South Revillagigedo Integrated 

Resource Project Environmental 

Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement. 

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will 

prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) for the South 

Revillagigedo Integrated Resource 

Project (South Revilla IRP) which 

proposes to harvest timber, restore 

watershed function, enhance or restore 

fish and wildlife habitat, and develop 

recreation opportunities using an 

integrated approach in the Shelter Cove, 

Shoal Cove, and Thorne Arm areas 

within the Ketchikan Misty Fjords 

Ranger District, Tongass National 

Forest. The Proposed Action would 

harvest about 60 million board feet of 

timber from up to 6,000 acres over the 

course of 15 years. In addition, 

transportation management activities 

such as road construction, 

reconstruction, maintenance, and 

decommissioning are proposed. At the 

same time that it would approve the 

proposed project, the Forest Service 

may approve a project-specific Forest 

Plan amendment to ensure the project is 

consistent with the Plan. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 

September 7, 2018. Designated 

opportunities for additional comments 

will be provided. The draft EIS, is 

expected to be published July 2019. A 

final EIS is expected July, 2020. 

ADDRESSES: Send or hand-deliver 

specific written comments to the 

Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, 

Attn: South Revilla IRP, 3031 Tongass 

Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901; 

telephone (907) 225–2148. The FAX 

number is (907) 225–8738. Comments 

may be emailed to: comments-alaskatongass-ketchikan-mistyfiord@fs.fed.us 

with South Revilla IRP in the subject 

line. In all correspondence, include 

your name, address, and organization 

name if you are commenting as a 

representative of an organization. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan Howle, District Ranger, Ketchikan 

Misty Fjords Ranger District, 3031 

Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska 

99901; Daryl Bingham, Planning Staff, 

(907) 228–4114, or Damien Zona, 

Interdisciplinary Team Leader, (907) 

228–4126. Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

may call the Federal Information Relay 

Service at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 

a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday 

through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS 

will tier to and incorporate by reference 

the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource 

Management Plan Final EIS. The project 

area is located on Revillagigedo Island, 

approximately 17 miles northeast of 

Ketchikan, Alaska, within the Ketchikan 

Misty Fjords Ranger District, Tongass 

National Forest and encompasses about 

58,159 acres of National Forest System 

lands. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The purpose of the South Revilla IRP 

is to implement the 2016 Tongass Land 

and Resource Management Plan (Forest 

Plan) direction to move the project area 

toward the desired future conditions 

described in that plan. More 

specifically, the purpose is to manage 

the timber resource for production of 

sawtimber and other wood products, 

improve ecosystem and watershed 

health, and provide a range of recreation 

opportunities to meet public and 

tourism business demand through an 

integrated approach to meet multiple 

resource objectives. Maintaining 

existing, and expanding opportunities 

for the recreation and tourism sector 

would contribute to the local economy. 

There is a need to provide a 

sustainable level of forest products to 

contribute to the economic 

sustainability of the region. Providing 

old-growth timber would preserve a 

viable timber industry during the 

transition to young-growth management 

and would provide jobs and 

opportunities for Southeast Alaska 

residents. Past management activities 

have affected watershed function in the 

project area. There is a need to improve 

and restore the natural range of habitat 

conditions in the project area to support 

viable wildlife, fish, and plant 

populations and to sustain diversity and 

production. Restoration would 

contribute to traditional, cultural, and 

subsistence uses by residents of 

Southeast Alaska. There is a need to 

provide sustainable recreation 

opportunities to a diverse and growing 

group of forest users. A sustainable 

recreation program in terms of 

operations and maintenance is needed 

to maintain infrastructure at an 

acceptable level. 

Proposed Action 

The Forest Service proposes to 

harvest timber, construct and 

reconstruct roads, restore watershed 

function, enhance or restore fish and 

wildlife habitat, and develop recreation 

opportunities in the Shelter Cove, Shoal 

Cove and Thorne Arm areas within the 

Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, 

Tongass National Forest. The project 

area includes the following land use 

designations (LUDs): Wilderness, Semiremote Recreation, Old-growth Habitat, 

Special Interest Area, Scenic River, 

Modified Landscape, and Timber 

Production (Forest Plan, Chapter 3). 

Proposed activities will be consistent 

with Forest Plan direction. A proposed 

action map and information on the 2018 

Shelter Cove and Saddle Lakes 

Recreation Area Master Plan is provided 

on the project web page at: https://

www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project

=53477. 

Forest and Transportation Management 

The Forest Service proposes to 

harvest about 60 million board feet of 

old-growth timber from up to 6,000 

acres of forested land in the Modified 

Landscape and Timber Production 

LUDs using one or more timber sales, 

with activities that would occur over the 

course of 15 years. The Proposed Action 

would construct about 30 miles of new 

National Forest System road and 

reconstruct about 104 miles of existing 

roads. Temporary road construction 

would include about 105 miles. Existing 

rock quarries would be used as available 

or new quarries would be developed as 

necessary to provide raw materials for 

road construction. Existing log transfer 

facilities at Shelter Cove and Shoal Cove 

could be used. Young-growth harvest 

may be considered during this planning 

phase if it meets the purpose and need 

of the Proposed Action. 

Watershed and Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

Watershed enhancement and 

restoration activities would include 

instream and floodplain wood 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES