Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Bridgette Keefe

WASHINGTON, January 27, 2005 – The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services today announced a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils, February 21-25, 2005, in London, United Kingdom.

The public meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2005, in Conference Room 1A-002 of the Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md.

Codex was created in 1962 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Codex develops food standards, guidelines and codes of practice in order to protect the health of consumers, ensure fair practices in the food trade and promote coordination of food standards undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

At the February 1, 2005, public meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments on the above agenda items.

For further information contact Syed A. Ali, International Issues Analyst, U.S. Codex Office, FSIS, at (202) 205-7760, or by fax (202) 720-3157.

Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Charles W. Cooper at (301) 436-1714, or by fax (301) 436-2618.