[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59404-59405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23778]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2012-N-0001]
Food Defense; Public Workshop
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of public workshop.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory
Affairs (ORA), Southwest Regional Office (SWRO), in co-sponsorship with
Oklahoma State University (OSU), Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural
Products Center (FAPC), is announcing a public workshop entitled ``Food
Defense Workshop.'' This public workshop is intended to provide
information about food defense as it relates to food facilities such as
farms, manufacturers, processors, distributors, retailers, and
restaurants.
Date and Time: This public workshop will be held on November 7 and
8, 2012, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Location: The public workshop will be held at the Robert M. Kerr
Food & Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University, 148
FAPC, Stillwater, OK 74078-6055.
Contact: For information regarding the workshop: David Arvelo, Food
and Drug Administration, Southwest Regional Office, 4040 North Central
Expressway, suite 900, Dallas, TX 75204, 214-253-4952, Fax: 214-253-
4970, email: david.arvelo@fda.hhs.gov.
For information on accommodations: Karen Smith or Andrea Graves at
the Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State
University, 148 FAPC, Stillwater, OK 74078-6055, 405-744-6277, Fax:
405-744-6313, or email: karenl.smith@okstate.edu or
andrea.graves@okstate.edu. More information is also available online at
http://www.fapc.biz/fooddefense2012.html.
Registration: You are encouraged to register by October 31, 2012.
The workshop has a registration fee to cover the cost of facilities,
materials, speakers, and breaks. The registration fee is $350 for
companies with 10 or more employees or $250 for companies with less
than 10 employees. Seats are limited; please submit your registration
as soon as possible. To register, please complete the online
registration form at http://www.fapc.biz/fooddefense2012.html. The
workshop will be filled in order of receipt of registration. Those
accepted into the workshop will receive confirmation. Registration will
close after the workshop is filled. Registration at the site is not
guaranteed but may be possible on a space available basis on the day of
the public workshop beginning at 7:45 a.m. Make checks payable to:
``FAPC.'' If you need special accommodations due to a disability,
please contact Karen Smith (see Contact) at least 7 days in advance.
There are no registration fees for FDA employees.
Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be
available due to the format of this workshop. Course handouts may be
requested after the date of the public workshop by contacting Karen
Smith or Andrea Graves (see Contact) at cost plus shipping.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This public workshop is being held in
response to the large volume of food defense inquiries from food
manufacturers originating from the area covered by the FDA Dallas
District Office. The Southwest Regional Office presents this workshop
to help achieve objectives set forth in section 406 of the Food and
Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393), which
include working closely with stakeholders and maximizing the
availability and clarity of information to stakeholders and the public.
This is consistent with the purposes of the
[[Page 59405]]
Small Business Representative Program, which are, in part, to respond
to industry inquiries, develop educational materials, and sponsor
workshops and conferences to provide firms, particularly small
businesses, with firsthand working knowledge of FDA's guidance. This
workshop is also consistent with the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), as outreach
activities by Government Agencies to small businesses.
The goal of this public workshop is to present information that
will enable regulated industry to better comply with the Public Health
Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the
Bioterrorism Act), and to better understand FDA's food defense
guidance, especially in light of growing concerns about food
protection. Information presented will be based on Agency position as
articulated through regulation, guidance, and information previously
made available to the public. Topics to be discussed at the workshop
include the following:
Food defense awareness and definitions,
FDA food defense tools such as ALERT and Employees FIRST,
Regulations mandated by the Bioterrorism Act,
Food Defense Guidance from the Food Safety and Inspection
Service,
Investigating food-related incidents effectively,
Physical plant security,
Crisis management, and
A food related emergency exercise bundle (FREE-B) tabletop
exercise on food defense.
For more information, please visit http://www.fapc.biz/fooddefense2012.html. FDA expects that participation in this public
workshop will provide regulated industry with greater understanding of
the Agency's regulatory and policy perspectives on food protection,
increase compliance with FDA regulations, and heighten food defense
awareness.
Dated: September 21, 2012.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-23778 Filed 9-26-12; 8:45 am]
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