[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4830-4831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01235]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0040]
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for
Foods; Reestablishment
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of reestablishment of Committee.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this
notice is announcing the reestablishment of the National Advisory
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The Committee
is being reestablished in cooperation with the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS). 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee
Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS), Room 9-214D Patriots Plaza III, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. Telephone number:
(202) 690-6620.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
USDA is charged with the 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
DHHS is charged with the administration and enforcement of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These Acts help protect consumers
by ensuring 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 reestablished. 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.
Reestablishment 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 FSIS and
DHHS in meeting their statutory responsibilities. To address the
complexity of the issues, 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 the DHHS. Because of the complexity
of matters addressed by this Committee, the Secretary may consult with
other Federal Agencies, such as the Department of Commerce's National
Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's Defense Logistics
Agency, and the DHHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for
advice on membership appointments. Background materials are
[[Page 4831]]
available on the Internet at the address noted above or by contacting
the person listed above.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update (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
constituents and stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv,
a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update also is available on the FSIS
Web site. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription
service that 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/.
Options range from recalls to export information to regulations,
directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions
themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.
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.
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.
Done at Washington, DC, on: January 4, 2013 .
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-01235 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
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