[Federal Register: September 2, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 52174-52175]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se03-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 03-031N]
FSIS Public Meeting on Pre-Harvest Food Safety Issues and
Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
that it will hold a public meeting on pre-harvest food safety issues
and E. coli O157:H7 on September 9, 2003, in Washington, DC. The
meeting will consist of presentations on the research and practical
experiences aimed at reducing E. coli O157:H7 at the livestock
production level before livestock reach federally inspected plants. The
meeting will also include a brief review of on-farm interventions for
pathogens other than E. coli O157:H7 that have already been adopted by
producers.
This meeting is one of a number of public meetings FSIS is
conducting to discuss new approaches for strengthening food safety.
DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2003, from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at The Washington Plaza Hotel, 10
Thomas Circle, NW., Massachusetts Avenue, at 14th Street, Washington,
DC 20005. A tentative agenda will be available in the FSIS Docket Room
and on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/. The official
transcript of the meeting, when it becomes available, will be kept in
the FSIS Docket Room at room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-3700, and will represent public comments. FSIS
welcomes comments on the topics to be discussed at the public meeting.
Please send an original and two copies of comments to the FSIS Docket
Clerk, Docket 03-031N, Room 102, Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250-
3700. All comments and the official transcript, when it becomes
available, will be kept in the FSIS Docket Room at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Nathan Bauer at (979) 260-9562.
[[Page 52175]]
There will be no pre-registration for this meeting. Persons
requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations
should contact Sheila Johnson at (202) 690-6498, fax: (202) 690-6500,
or e-mail: Sheila.johnson@fsis.usda.gov as soon as possible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scientific community continues to work
with animal agriculture to investigate methods to reduce food safety
risks through the use of specific production practices. Although much
has been learned about the ecology of biological, chemical, and
physical hazards during animal production, there are as of yet no
specific production practices addressing biological hazards that
consistently and predictably lead to improvement in food safety.
Results are promising in some cases, and investigation of those avenues
continues. A key point to recognize is that risk reduction
interventions that can be expected will arise from those areas under
research or from new areas that are added to the research agenda. It is
important, therefore, for producers to be aware of the practices being
explored, so that they can have input into the process and raise
concerns about (1) areas that are not under investigation but that
should be, (2) the economic impact of implementing new practices on the
farm, and (3) the impact of food safety hazards on the marketability of
their products.
To further pursue initiatives related to production practices, FSIS
is holding a public meeting on pre-harvest food safety issues and E.
coli O157:H7. The meeting has three goals.
The first goal is to determine whether interventions available to
producers can form the basis for best management practices to reduce
the load of E. coli O157:H7 in livestock before slaughter. The second
goal is to identify promising interventions and determine what steps
need to be taken to make the interventions available at the livestock
production level. The third goal is to identify which research gaps
should be the focus of the research community, including government,
academia, and industry.
Based on the input from the conference, and any other information
available to the Agency, FSIS will develop materials for producers that
address pre-harvest food safety issues and E. coli O157:H7 and take
other actions that appear to advance its food safety goals.
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
affect 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 in Washington, DC on August 27, 2003.
Garry L. McKee,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-22297 Filed 8-29-03; 8:45 am]