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

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2006 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced a public meeting to provide information and receive comments on agenda items to be discussed at the 13th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), to be held in Mexico City, Sept. 25-29, 2006.

The public meeting will be held on Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. until noon in Room 3074, USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, D.C. Agenda items for the meeting and documents relating to the 13th Session of the CCFFV can be found at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081106101749/http://www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.

The CCFFV consults with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards to further define worldwide standards and codes of practices for fresh fruits and vegetables. The Committee also consults, as necessary, with other international organizations which are active in the area of standardization of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Codex was created in 1963 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 food trade practices and promote coordination of food standards undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The public is invited to submit comments on this meeting notice. Comments may be submitted by mail or electronic mail and will be posted on FSIS' Web site at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081106101749/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_notices_index/.

For further information concerning the 13th Session of the CCFFV, contact Dorian Lafond, international standards coordinator, AMS, at (202) 690-4944 or by fax at (202) 720-0016.

Persons requesting a sign language interpreter or any other special accommodations for the public meeting should contact Ellen Matten, U.S. Codex Office, at (202) 720-7760 or by fax at (202) 720-3157.