[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73240-73242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28598]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS 2007-0001]
Draft Risk Assessment for the Public Health Impact of Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell Eggs, and Egg
Products
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is requesting
public comment on a draft quantitative food safety risk assessment for
highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus associated with the
consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products. The
purpose of this risk assessment is to: (1) Estimate the public health
impact from human exposure to HPAI virus through the consumption of
contaminated poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products, and (2)
evaluate the relative effectiveness of strategies to reduce or prevent
exposure to HPAI virus from the consumption of poultry meat, shell
eggs, and egg products.
DATES: Submit written comments by February 2, 2009.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and
follow the instructions.
* Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-
delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2534 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2007-0001.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted to
Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2008_
Notices_Index/. Individuals who do not wish FSIS to post their
personal contact information--mailing address, e-mail address,
telephone number--on the Internet may leave this information off of
their comments. Comments will also be available for public inspection
in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed
[[Page 73241]]
above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal J. Golden, Office of Public
Health Science, FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Aerospace Center,
Washington, DC 20250-3700; Telephone: (202) 690-6419; Fax: (202) 690-
6337; Electronic mail: neal.golden@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Avian influenza viruses are Influenza A viruses of the family
Orthomyxoviridae and are endemic in birds of many countries. Avian
influenza has been shown to infect mammalian species including cats,
horses, pigs, seals, and whales. Avian influenza varies in its ability
to cause disease in both humans and birds. Most strains are classified
as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) which causes mild disease in
infected domestic poultry characterized by low morbidity and low
mortality rates. LPAI virus rarely infects humans and does not pose a
significant human health threat. HPAI virus, however, causes a more
severe clinical disease in infected poultry, with high morbidity and
mortality rates. HPAI virus can occasionally infect humans and other
mammalian species. For more information on avian influenza viruses see
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/
usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/11/0511.xml.
The majority of known human cases of HPAI are epidemiologically
linked to close contact with live or dead poultry, resulting in
occasional infection of poultry workers, poultry cullers, and poultry
farmers (http://www.who.int/foodsafety/micro/avian/en/). Possible
routes of infection include respiratory inhalation of infective
droplets or self-inoculation (e.g., by a human handler touching mucous
membranes or conjunctiva after contact with avian fecal contamination,
avian respiratory secretions, or avian body fluids), rather than
consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, or egg products (http://
www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/biohaz/biohaz_documents/1412.html).
There are no reported epidemiological data linking the consumption
of poultry products, eggs, or egg products to human illness from HPAI
virus. Despite this lack of evidence, the possibility of consumption as
an exposure route remains a concern to food safety experts. In Asia,
two cases of HPAI infection may be related to food consumption of
infected raw duck blood products, although contact with live or dead
HPAI-infected poultry could not be epidemiologically excluded.
In light of the recent HPAI poultry and human outbreaks in Asia,
Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and of the lack of clear evidence
of a risk from exposure through consumption of poultry products, shell
eggs, and egg products, a draft risk assessment was developed by an
Interagency Workgroup formed from representatives of each of these
three agencies: FSIS, the Department of Health and Human Services'
(DHHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The purpose of this quantitative
risk assessment is to: (1) Estimate the public health impact from human
exposure to HPAI virus through the consumption of contaminated poultry
products, shell eggs, and egg products, and (2) evaluate the relative
effectiveness of strategies to reduce or prevent exposure to HPAI virus
from the consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products.
Other routes of exposure such as inhalation, mucosal contact, wound
exposures by food preparers, and consumer contact with contaminated raw
poultry and eggs, as well as farm and processing occupational
exposures, are not addressed in this risk assessment.
II. The Draft Risk Assessment
This draft risk assessment has undergone an independent external
peer review consistent with the requirements in OMB's ``Final
Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review'' and substantial review
by various government agencies. This quantitative risk assessment
provides a science-based, analytical approach to collate and
incorporate available data into a mathematical model. It provides risk
managers with a decision-support tool to evaluate the effectiveness of
preparedness and current and future interventions to reduce or prevent
foodborne illness. This risk assessment can also be used to target risk
communication messages, identify and prioritize research needs, and
provide a framework for coordinating efforts with stakeholders.
Potential human exposure was modeled separately for poultry
products and for shell eggs. Egg products were qualitatively addressed.
The draft exposure models for poultry products and for shell eggs
estimated human exposure from the HPAI contamination of a single
chicken, turkey, or hen flock and considered the farm-to-fork continuum
including the farm, transportation, slaughter, consumer cooking, and
consumer cross-contamination during preparation.
As part of an evaluation of the draft risk assessment, FSIS is
seeking comments that can be used to improve:
(1) The assumptions made,
(2) The modeling techniques,
(3) The data used, and
(4) The clarity of the draft risk assessment document.
It is FSIS's intent to review and evaluate all public comments and
make modifications to the assessment, as appropriate. The draft risk
assessment is available electronically on the FSIS Web site (http://
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp).
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/2008_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_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls,
export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can
add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password
protect their accounts.
[[Page 73242]]
Done at Washington, DC on November 25, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-28598 Filed 12-1-08; 8:45 am]
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