[Federal Register: August 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 43714]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au09-89]
[[Page 43714]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0658]
Interagency Risk Assessment of the Public Health Impact From
Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in Some Ready-to-Eat Foods Sliced,
Prepared, and/or Packaged in Retail Facilities; Request for Comments
and for Scientific Data and Information; Reopening of the Comment
Period
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice; reopening of the comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening until
September 29, 2009, the comment period for the notice published in the
Federal Register of January 21, 2009 (74 FR 3617). In that document,
FDA requested comments and scientific data and information that would
assist in the conduct of a risk assessment of the public health impact
of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat foods sliced,
prepared, and/or packaged in retail facilities. The risk assessment is
being conducted by FDA in collaboration with the Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS). The agency is reopening the comment period
because FDA and FSIS held a public meeting on June 23, 2009, to present
the background, approach, scope, and data needs for the recently
initiated interagency risk assessment (74 FR 27276; June 9, 2009) and
this additional time will allow for public comment after this meeting.
DATES: Submit comments and scientific data and information by September
29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and scientific data and information
to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
Submit electronic comments and scientific data and information to
http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherri Dennis, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-005), Food and Drug Administration, 5100
Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 301-436-2355, e-mail:
sherri.dennis@fda.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In the Federal Register of January 21, 2009 (74 FR 3617), FDA
announced plans to conduct a risk assessment of the public health
impact of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat foods
sliced, prepared, and/or packaged in retail facilities. Comments were
sought on data and information in the following areas: (1)
Characteristics of ready-to-eat food markets in the United States; (2)
characteristics of deli departments in groceries; (3) product
contamination data; (4) factors that influence the growth of L.
monocytogenes in cheeses, deli meats, and deli-type salads sold by
retail facilities; (5) environmental contamination data; (6) factors
that influence the environmental contamination and the cross-
contamination of food by L. monocytogenes in retail facilities; (7)
identity and effectiveness of control measures or interventions
intended to reduce levels and frequency of L. monocytogenes in the
retail environment; and (8) any other data related to the occurrence,
growth, and control of L. monocytogenes in retail facilities.
Interested persons were given until April 21, 2009, to submit comments
and scientific data and information.
On June 23, 2009, FDA and FSIS held a public meeting to present the
background, approach, scope, and data needs for this interagency risk
assessment (74 FR 27276; June 9, 2009). For this reason, FDA is
reopening the comment period until September 29, 2009, to allow
additional time for public comment and submission of scientific data
and information.
II. Comments
Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management
(see ADDRESSES) written or electronic comments, scientific data, and
information regarding this document. Submit a single copy of electronic
comments, scientific data, and information to http://
www.regulations.gov or two paper copies of any mailed comments,
scientific data, and information, except that individuals may submit
one paper copy. Submissions are to be identified with the docket number
found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments
and scientific data and information may be seen in the Division of
Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Dated: August 21, 2009.
David Horowitz,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E9-20641 Filed 8-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S