[Federal Register: September 30, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 189)]
[Notices]
[Page 61314]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30se02-28]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
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[[Page 61314]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety Inspection Service
[Docket No. 02-021N]
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for
Foods; Renewal
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Re-chartering of Committee.
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SUMMARY: This notice is announcing the re-chartering of the National
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The
Committee is being renewed in cooperation with the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS). The establishment of the Committee was
recommended by a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences
Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria,
``An Evaluation of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.''
The current charter for the NACMCF is available for viewing on the
NACMCF homepage at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/NACMCF/index.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee
Specialist, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 333
Aerospace Center, 1400 & Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3700. Background materials are available for inspection on the
web at the above address or by contacting Ms. Thomas at 202-690-6620.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with
administration and the enforcement of the Federal Meat Inspection Act
(FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg
Products Inspection Act (EPIA). The Secretary of HHS is charged with
the administration and enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These Acts help protect consumers by assuring
that food products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked,
labeled and packaged.
In order to assist the Secretaries in carrying out their
responsibilities under the FMIA, PPIA, EPIA, and FFDCA, the NACMCF is
being re-chartered. The Committee will be charged with advising and
providing recommendations to the Secretaries on the development of
microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food
can be assessed, including criteria for microorganisms that indicate
whether foods have been adequately and appropriately processed.
Re-chartering of this Committee is necessary and in the public
interest because of the need for external expert advice on the range of
scientific and technical issues that must be addressed by the Federal
sponsors in meeting their statutory responsibilities. The complexity of
the issues to be addressed requires that the Committee meet at least
twice per year.
Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after
consultation with the Secretary of HHS. Because of their interest in
the matters to be addressed by this Committee, advice on membership
appointments will be requested from the Department of Commerce's
National Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's
Veterinary Service Activity, and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it and make copies of this Federal Register
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS
provides a weekly Constituent Update, which is communicated via
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. In addition, the update
is available on-line through the FSIS Web page located at http://
www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide information regarding
FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS
public meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could
effect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The
constituent Listserv consists of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be
included. Through the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
For more information contact the Congressional and Public Affairs
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription
service (Listserv) go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the FSIS
Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/update.htm. Click on the
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out
and submit the form.
Done at Washington, DC on: September 25, 2002.
Elsa Murano,
Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-24751 Filed 9-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P