[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 40297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20038]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 98F-0567]


The Dow Chemical Co.; Filing of Food Additive Petition

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that The 
Dow Chemical Co. has filed a petition proposing that the food additive 
regulations be amended to provide for the expanded safe use of 
copolymers of ethylene and octene-1 as articles or components of 
articles contacting food.
DATES: Written comments on the petitioner's environmental assessment by 
August 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, 
Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julius Smith, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-215), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C 
St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-418-3091.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (sec. 409(b)(5) (21 U.S.C. 348(b)(5))), notice is given that a food 
additive petition (FAP 8B4601) has been filed by The Dow Chemical Co., 
2030 Dow Center, Midland, MI 48674. The petition proposes to amend the 
food additive regulations in Sec. 177.1520 Olefin polymers (21 CFR 
177.1520) to expand the safe use of ethylene-octene-1 copolymers as 
articles or components of articles contacting food by lowering the 
required level of polymer units derived from ethylene to not less than 
50 weight percent.
    The potential environmental impact of this action is being 
reviewed. To encourage public participation consistent with regulations 
promulgated under the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 
1501.4(b)), the agency is placing the environmental assessment 
submitted with the petition that is the subject of this notice on 
public display at the Dockets Management Branch (address above) for 
public review and comment. Interested persons may, on or before August 
27, 1998, submit to the Dockets Management Branch (address above) 
written comments. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, 
except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be 
identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of 
this document. Received comments may be seen in the office above 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. FDA will also place 
on public display any amendments to, or comments on, the petitioner's 
environmental assessment without further announcement in the Federal 
Register. If, based on its review, the agency finds that an 
environmental impact statement is not required and this petition 
results in a regulation, the notice of availability of the agency's 
finding of no significant impact and the evidence supporting that 
finding will be published with the regulation in the Federal Register 
in accordance with 21 CFR 25.40(c).

    Dated: July 6, 1998.
Laura M. Tarantino,
Acting Director, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition.
[FR Doc. 98-20038 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F