Document ID: FDA-2012-N-1153-0002
Agency: fda
Document Type: Notice
Title: Improvement of Tracking and Tracing of Food; Establishment of Pilot Projects and Congressional Report
Posted Date: 2013-04-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19715-19716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07580]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2012-N-1153]

Implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Provision 
Requiring FDA To Establish Pilot Projects and Submit a Report to 
Congress for the Improvement of Tracking and Tracing of Food; Extension 
of Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the 
comment period for the notice entitled ``Implementation of the FDA Food 
Safety Modernization Act Provision Requiring FDA To Establish Pilot 
Projects and Submit a Report to Congress for the Improvement of 
Tracking and Tracing of Food'' that appeared in the Federal Register of 
March 5, 2013 (78 FR 14309). In the notice, FDA requested comments on 
the findings and recommendations contained in the Institute of Food 
Technologists (IFT) report to FDA and the submission of information 
relevant to improving product tracing. The Agency is taking this action 
in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons 
additional time to submit comments.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments by July 3, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and information, identified by 
Docket No. FDA-2012-N-1153, by any of the following methods:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments and information in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments and information.

Written Submissions

    Submit written submissions in the following way:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM 
submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name 
and Docket No. FDA-2012-N-1153 for this notice. All comments and 
information received may be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For 
additional information on submitting comments and information, see the 
``Comments'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments and information received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
insert the docket number(s), found in brackets in the heading of this 
document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the prompts and/or go to 
the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherri A. McGarry, Office of Foods, 
Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 1, Rm. 
1212, Silver Spring, MD 20903, 301-796-3851.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In the Federal Register of March 5, 2013 (78 FR 14309), FDA 
published a

[[Page 19716]]

notice with a 30-day comment period to request comments on the findings 
and recommendations contained in the IFT report and the submission of 
information relevant to improving product tracing. Comments on the 
findings and recommendations contained in the IFT report and the 
submission of information relevant to improving product tracing will 
help FDA as it forms its own recommendations, to be contained in the 
Agency report to Congress that is required by the FDA Food Safety 
Modernization Act (FSMA), and as it implements the FSMA provisions 
relating to the tracking and tracing of food.
    The Agency has received requests for a 120-day extension of the 
comment period for the notice. Each request conveyed concern that the 
current 30-day comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop 
a meaningful or thoughtful response to the notice.
    FDA has considered the requests and is extending the comment period 
for all interested persons for 90 days, until July 3, 2013. The Agency 
believes that a 90-day extension allows adequate time for interested 
persons to submit comments.

II. Request for Comments

    Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding 
this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the 
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to 
send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number 
found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments 
may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: March 26, 2013.
Peter Lurie,
Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning.
[FR Doc. 2013-07580 Filed 4-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P