[Federal Register: November 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 223)]
[Notices]               
[Page 63281-63282]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19no99-39]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-054N]

 
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria 
for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings on December 8-10, 1999. On 
December 8-9, 1999, NACMCF will discuss recent research and other 
information related to performance criteria for fresh juice, in 
particular citrus juices, and on December 10, 1999, the Food Safety 
Inspection Service (FSIS) will present issues related to the risk 
assessment models under development to examine the relationship between 
Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef and human health. The 
sponsoring agencies invite comments on issues related to these 
meetings.

DATES: The full committee will meet on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 
December 8-10, 1999, beginning at 8 a.m.

ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held at the Doyle Hotel, Doyle 
Ballroom, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue (Dupont Circle), Washington, DC 
20036, telephone (202) 483-6000. Submit one original and two copies of 
written comments on the risk assessment models to the FSIS Docket 
Clerk, Docket #99-054N, Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, 300 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons wishing to register for the 
meeting or submit comments on fresh citrus juice should, by December 1, 
1999, contact Ms. Catherine M. DeRoever, telephone (202) 205-4251,

[[Page 63282]]

fax (202) 205-4970, or e-mail cderoeve@bangate.fda.gov. Persons 
requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations 
should notify Ms. DeRoever (fax number above) by December 1, 1999.

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 Departments of Commerce and Defense. Dr. I. Kaye Wachsmuth, 
Deputy Administrator, Office of Public Health and Science, FSIS, is the 
Committee Chair.

Additional Public Notification

    Public meetings generally are designed to provide information and 
receive public comments on issues that may lead to new or revised 
agency regulations or instructions. Public involvement in all segments 
of rulemaking and policy development are important. Consequently, in an 
effort to better ensure that minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities are aware of this public meeting and are informed about 
the mechanism for providing their comments, FSIS will announce it 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.

    Done at Washington, DC, on November 15, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-30222 Filed 11-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P