[Federal Register: August 30, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 167)] [Notices] [Page 47165-47166] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr30au99-30] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety Inspection Service [Docket No. 99-042N] National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a public meeting on September 21-24, 1999, to review and discuss ongoing work on Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) risk assessments and to address the issue of bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods at retail. DATES: The full committee will hold a public meeting on bare-hand contact of ready-to-eat foods at retail, on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 21-22, 1999, beginning at 8:00 a.m. On Wednesday afternoon, September 22, beginning at 1:30 p.m. there will be an update on performance criteria for fresh juice. The full committee will reconvene on Thursday and Friday, September 23-24, 1999, beginning at 8:00 a.m. to discuss Lm and V. parahaemolyticus risk assessments. Also, on Friday, September 24, 1999, beginning at 3:15 p.m., the full committee will review for adoption the Small Plant Hazard Analysis Guidelines. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, #10 Thomas Circle NW, at Massachusetts Avenue & 14th Street, Washington, DC 20005, telephone number (202) 842-1300. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons wishing to register for the meeting, should contact Ms. Mary Harris, (202) 501-7315, Fax (202) 501- 7615, e-mail address: mary.harris@usda.gov or mailing address: Food Safety and Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, Room 6904E-- Franklin Court, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250- 3700. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Ms. Harris, by September 10, 1999. If you wish to make an oral presentation on any of the meeting topics you must contact Ms. Catherine M. DeRoever at (202) 205-4251, fax: (202) 205-4970, or e-mail address: cderoeve@bangate.fda.gov and submit (1) a brief written statement regarding the general nature of comments and (2) the name, address, and telephone number, of the person who will be giving the presentation. Because of the anticipated number of individuals who may wish to make a public statement, it is likely that the committee will limit the time allotted for the presentations. Reservations to make a public statement will be taken on a first come, first served basis. All requests to make a presentation must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., September 8, 1999. Any documents submitted become part of the Committee records. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The NACMCF provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, regarding the microbiological safety of foods. The Committee also provides advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Departments of Commerce and Defense. Dr. I. Kaye Wachsmuth, Deputy Administrator, Office of Public Health and Science, FSIS, is the Committee Chair. During the full committee meeting on bare-hand contact with ready- to-eat foods at retail, the committee will discuss the many scientific issues having to do with food worker hand contact of ready-to-eat foods. They will evaluate the risk of transmitting bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens from food workers, via ready-to-eat foods, to consumers, and the effectiveness of interventions. During the full committee meeting on Lm, the preliminary risk assessment that addresses the presence of Lm in specific food groups, the consumption of these foods by various subpopulations including their total intake and health response, will be reviewed. Comments will be requested on the methodology used, the interpretation of data, and any additional assessments that should be made. At the V. parahaemolyticus risk assessment session, an update on the information, data, and parameters, will be given along with a summation of the risk assessment findings to date. Again, comments will be requested on the methodology used, the interpretation of data, and any additional assessments that should be made. The Meat and Poultry Subcommittee will submit the Small Plant Hazard Analysis Guidelines for adoption by the full committee. Additional Public Notification Pursuant to Departmental Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis,'' dated September 22, 1993, FSIS has considered the potential civil rights impact of this notice on minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Therefore, to better ensure that these groups and others are made aware of this meeting, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of the Federal Register publication in the FSIS Constituent Update. The Agency provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via fax to over 300 [[Page 47166]] 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 Agency 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, the Agency is able to provide information with a much broader, more diverse audience. For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your request to the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at (202) 720-5704. Done at Washington, DC on: August 25, 1999. Thomas J. Billy, Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-22430 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P