```

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4716-4717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01035]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The U.S. Codex Office

Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

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 Feb 5, 
2025. 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 22nd Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits 
and Vegetables (CCFFV), which will meet in Mexico City, Mexico, from 
February 25-March 1, 2025. 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 23rd Session of the 
CCFFV and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for February 5, 2025, from 11 
a.m.-12:30 p.m. eastern time.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via video teleconference 
only. Documents related to the 23rd Session of the CCFFV will be 
accessible via the internet at the following address: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCFFV&session=23.
    Mr. Dorian LaFond, U.S. Delegate to the 23rd Session of CCFFV, 
invites interested U.S. parties to submit their comments electronically 
to the following email address: [email protected].
    Registration: Attendees may register to attend the public meeting 
at the following link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscOihrD8uGX42lENVyIB4gIMrirpf_SE. After registering, you will 
receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the 
meeting.
    For further information about the 23rd Session of the CCFFV, 
contact U.S. Delegate, Mr. Dorian LaFond, International Food Standards 
Coordinator, Fruits and Vegetables Program, Specialty Crops Division, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, phone: 
+1 (202) 690-4944, email: [email protected]. For additional 
information regarding the public meeting, contact the U.S. Codex Office 
by email at: [email protected].

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 the 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 Fresh Fruits and 
Vegetables (CCFFV) are:
    (a) To elaborate worldwide standards and codes of practice as may 
be appropriate for fresh fruits and vegetables
    (b) to consult, as necessary, with other international 
organizations in the standards development to avoid duplication
    The CCFFV is hosted by Mexico. The United States attends the CCFFV 
as a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items from the Provisional Agenda for the 23rd 
Session of the CCFFV will be discussed during the public meeting:
     Matters arising from the Codex Alimentarius Commission and 
other committees;
     Matters arising from other international organizations on 
the standardization of fresh fruits and vegetables;
     Draft standard for fresh dates;
     Proposed draft standard for fresh curry leaves;
     Discussion paper on the review of existing FFV standards;
     Consideration for proposals for new work;
     Other Business.

Public Meeting

    At the February 5, 2025, 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 to the 23rd Session of the CCFFV, at 
[email protected]. Written comments should state that they relate 
to activities of the 23rd Session of the CCFFV.

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 online through the USDA 
Codex web page located at: https://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

[[Page 4717]]

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: 
[email protected]. 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 January 13, 2025.
Julie A. Chao,
Deputy U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2025-01035 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3420-3F-P
```