[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65976-65977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31572]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


FDA Food Labeling and Allergen Declaration; Public Workshop

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Southwest Regional 
Small Business Program (Small Business Program), Office of Regulatory 
Affairs, in collaboration with FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, the State of Missouri Department of Public Health, the 
Kansas City Department of Health and the Missouri Milk, Food and 
Environmental Health Association is announcing a public workshop 
entitled ``FDA Food Labeling and Allergen Declaration.'' This public 
workshop is intended to provide information about FDA food regulations, 
food labeling allergen declaration, good manufacturing practices, and 
other related matters to the regulated industry, particularly small 
businesses and startups.
    Date and Time: The public workshop will be held on January 10 and 
11, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Location: The public workshop will be held at the Kansas City 
Department of Health Auditorium, 2400 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO.
    Contact: Gala Jaramillo, Missouri Milk, Food and Environmental 
Health Association, P.O. Box 105017, Jefferson City, MO 65110-5017, 
573-634-6418, or Sue Thomason, FDA, 7920 Elmbrook Dr., suite 102, 
Dallas, TX 75247-4982, 214-655-8100, ext. 128, FAX 214-655-8114.
    Registration: Preregistration by January 3, 2002, is encouraged. 
The Missouri Milk, Food and Environmental Health Association has a $20 
preregistration fee to cover the cost of breaks. To preregister, please 
complete the form below and send along with a check or money order for 
$20 payable to The Missouri Milk, Food and Environmental Health 
Association (address above). As an alternative, the registration form 
and directions to the facility can also be obtained on the Internet at 
http://www.fda.gov/ora/indust_assit/Default.htm. Seats are limited, 
please submit registration form as soon as possible. Course space will 
be filled in order of receipt of registration. Those accepted into the 
course will receive written confirmation. Registration will close when 
the course is filled. Registration at the site will be done on a space 
available basis on the day of the public workshop beginning at 8 a.m. 
The cost of registration at the site is $25 payable to The Missouri 
Milk, Food and Environmental Health Association. If you need special 
accommodations due to a disability, please contact Leslie Foresberg at 
816-513-6315 at least 7 days in advance.
Name: ____________

Agency: ____________

Mailing Address: ____________


[[Page 65977]]


City: ____________

State: ____________

Zip Code: ____________

Phone: (  ) ____________

FAX: (  ) ____________

E-mail: ____________

    Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop may be requested in 
writing from the Freedom of Information Office (HFI-35), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 12A-16, Rockville, MD 20857, 
approximately 15 working days after the public workshop at a cost of 10 
cents per page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The workshop is being held in response to a 
request by the State of Missouri to present information that would be 
helpful to regulated industry. The Small Business Program presents this 
workshop to help achieve objectives set forth in section 406 of the 
Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393), 
which include working closely with stakeholders and maximizing the 
availability and clarity of information to stakeholders and the public. 
This is consistent with the purposes of the Small Business Program, 
which are in part to respond to industry inquiries, develop educational 
materials, sponsor workshops and conferences to provide firms, 
particularly small businesses, with firsthand working knowledge of 
FDA's requirements and compliance policies. This workshop is also 
consistent with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), as outreach activities by Government 
agencies to small businesses.
    The goal of the workshop is to present information that will enable 
manufacturers and regulated industry to better comply with labeling 
requirements, especially in light of growing concerns about food 
allergens. Information presented will be based on agency position as 
articulated through regulation, compliance policy guides, and 
information previously made available to the public. Topics to be 
discussed at the workshop include: (1) FDA food regulations, (2) food 
labeling, (3) allergen declaration, (4) good manufacturing practices, 
and (5) the Nutrition Labeling Education Act. FDA expects that 
participation in this workshop will provide regulated industry with 
greater understanding of the regulatory and policy perspectives on food 
labeling and allergen declaration.

    Dated: December 18, 2001.
Margaret M. Dotzel,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 01-31572 Filed 12-19-01; 12:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S