[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 199 (Friday, October 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63433-63434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26021]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 199 / Friday, October 15, 2010 /
Notices
[[Page 63433]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0033]
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for
Foods; Re-Establishment
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of re-chartering of Committee.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this
notice is announcing the re-chartering of the National Advisory
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) by the
Secretary of Agriculture on September 24, 2010. The Committee is being
renewed in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). The establishment of the Committee was recommended by a 1985
report of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Food
Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria, ``An Evaluation
of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.'' The current
charter for the NACMCF is available for viewing on the NACMCF homepage
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.
At this time the charter is being changed to add one individual
affiliated with a consumer group to be appointed to the NACMCF as a
representative member. This member will provide a consumer viewpoint to
Committee work and will not be required to have a scientific
background. The balance of the Committee membership will be scientists,
and those who are not regular government employees will be appointed as
special government employees.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory Committee
Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS), Room 333 Aerospace Center, 1400 &
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. Telephone number:
(202) 690-6620.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
USDA is charged with administration and the enforcement of the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act
(PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). The Secretary of
HHS is charged with the administration and enforcement of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These Acts help protect consumers
by assuring that food products are wholesome, not adulterated, and
properly marked, labeled and packaged.
In order to assist the Secretaries in carrying out their
responsibilities under the FMIA, PPIA, EPIA, and FFDCA, the NACMCF is
being re-chartered. The Committee will be charged with providing
recommendations to the Secretaries on the development of
microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food
can be assessed, including criteria for microorganisms that indicate
whether foods have been adequately and appropriately processed.
Re-chartering of this Committee is necessary and in the public
interest because of the need for external expert advice on the range of
scientific and technical issues that must be addressed by the Federal
sponsors in meeting their statutory responsibilities. The complexity of
the issues to be addressed requires that the Committee is expected to
meet one or more times annually.
Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after
consultation with the Secretary of HHS. Because of their interest in
the matters to be addressed by this Committee, advice on membership
appointments will be requested from the Department of Commerce's
National Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's
Veterinary Service Activity, and the Department of Health and Human
Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Background
materials are available on the Web at the address noted above or by
contacting Karen Thomas-Sharp.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age,
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or
family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2010_Notices_Index/.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail
subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included.
The Update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and
the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader,
more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food
safety news and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/.
[[Page 63434]]
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Done at Washington, DC, on October 12, 2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-26021 Filed 10-14-10; 8:45 am]
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