[Federal Register: December 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 239)] [Notices] [Page 69685-69686] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr14de99-31] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 99-061N] Codex Alimentarius: Eighth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service. ACTION: Notice of public meetings and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture; and the Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services, are sponsoring two public meetings to provide information and receive public comments on issues that will be discussed at the CCFICS, which will be held in Adelaide, Australia, February 21-25, 2000. The Departments recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the Eighth Session of the CCFICS and to address items on the Agenda. DATES: The first public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 13, 2000, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to review the technical content of the various documents coming before the Session. The second public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 10, 2000, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to review the U.S. Government positions on the agenda items. ADDRESSES: Both public meetings will be held in Room 1409, Federal Office Building 8, 200 C Street SW, Washington, DC (Metro Rail Stop is Federal Center SW) Send an original and two copies of comments to: FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #99-061N, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Comments should be submitted by February 4, 2000. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection in the Docket Clerk's Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Clerkin, Associate U.S. Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 4861, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone: (202) 205-7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Mr. Clerkin at the above numbers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Codex was established in 1962 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Codex is the major international organization for encouraging fair international trade in food and protecting the health and economic interests of consumers. Through 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 ensure that the world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from adulteration, and correctly labeled. The Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems was established to develop principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification systems to facilitate trade through harmonization and to supply safe, high quality foods to consumers. Recognition of quality assurance systems through the development of guidelines will help ensure that foods conform to the essential requirements. Issues to be Discussed at both Public Meetings Proposed Draft Guidelines/Recommendations for Food Import Control Systems Proposed Draft Guidelines and Criteria for Official Certificate Formats and Rules Relating to the Production and Issuance of Certificates Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Utilization and Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems Discussion Paper on the Judgement of Equivalence on Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification Systems Discussion Paper on the Judgement on Equivalence of Technical Regulations Associated with Food Inspection and Certification Systems 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 these public meetings, FSIS will announce them and provide copies of this Federal Register publication in the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. 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 affect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The constituent fax list 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 these various channels, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your request to the Congressional and Public Affairs Office, at (202) 720- 5704. [[Page 69686]] Done at Washington, DC, on; December 6, 1999. F. Edward Scarbrough, U.S. Manager for Codex. [FR Doc. 99-32286 Filed 12-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P