[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23901-23902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09508]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2013-0005]
Interagency Risk Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail
Delicatessens: Notice of a Public Meeting
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and
Drug Administration/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA/
CFSAN) are holding a public meeting on May 22, 2013, to present the
background, approach, scope, and findings of the draft ``Interagency
Risk Assessment--L. monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens.'' The
purpose of this draft quantitative risk assessment (QRA) is to evaluate
the public health impact of changes in retail delicatessen (deli)
practices and potential interventions to reduce or prevent L.
monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are
sliced, prepared, or packaged in retail facilities. FSIS and FDA invite
interested individuals, organizations, and other stakeholders to
participate in the meeting and to provide comments on the draft QRA.
DATES: The public meeting will be held on May 22, 2013 from 8:45 a.m.
to 4:15 p.m. EDT. Submit either electronic or written comments to FSIS
June 24, 2013.
A copy of the agenda will be made available for viewing prior to
the meeting on FSIS's Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2013,
in the USDA Jefferson Auditorium (South Building), 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Attendees must provide a photo ID to
enter the building. The Jefferson Auditorium is located between Wings 5
and 6 in the South Building. Attendees should enter the building via
Wing 5 or 7 on 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW. After 9:30 a.m.,
attendees should enter the building via the Wing 1 entrance.
Registration: Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. Pre-registration
for this meeting is encouraged. To pre-register, access the FSIS Web
site, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
Contact Joan Lindenberger for more information on logistics at
(202) 720-0284. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other
special accommodations should notify Ms. Lindenberger by May 13, 2013.
Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2013-0005. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janell Kause, Scientific Advisor for
Risk Assessment, Office of Public Health Science, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, USDA, 355 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20024;
Telephone: (202) 690-0286, FAX: (202) 690-6337, Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
FSIS and FDA will issue a draft quantitative risk assessment (QRA),
``Interagency Risk Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail
Delicatessens'' for public comment prior to the public meeting. This
draft QRA provides a scientific assessment of the risk of foodborne
illness associated with consumption of RTE foods (i.e., deli meats,
cheese, and deli salads) commonly prepared and sold in the deli of a
retail food store and examines how that risk may be impacted by changes
to common or recommended practices. FSIS and FDA have involved
stakeholders and the public in the development of this QRA to ensure
its utility.
A request for comments, scientific data, and information for this
QRA was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009 (Ref. 1).
In addition, FSIS and FDA held a public meeting on June 23, 2009, to
present the background, approach, scope, and data needs for this QRA
(Ref. 2) (transcripts are available for viewing by the public in the
FSIS docket room and on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Listeria-Transcript_062309.pdf).
II. Purpose of the Meeting and Agenda
The purpose of the meeting on May 22, 2013, is to present the
background, approach, and findings of the draft ``Interagency Risk
Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens,'' and
gather public input.
A copy of the agenda will be made available for viewing prior to
the meeting on FSIS's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
The meeting agenda will include presentations on background
information relevant to L. monocytogenes at retail and data
commissioned to fill specific risk assessment data needs, the overall
risk assessment modeling approach, and findings. Time will be provided
for questions and comments from the participants.
III. Transcripts
Please be advised that as soon as a transcript is available, it
will be accessible at http://www.regulations.gov. The transcript may be
viewed at FSIS Docket Room, Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-164,
Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday and will also be posted on the Agency Web site (http://www.fsis.usda.gov).
IV. References
The following references are on display in the FSIS Docket Room at
the address above between 8:00 a.m. and
[[Page 23902]]
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (FSIS have verified the following Web
site addresses, but FSIS is not responsible for any subsequent changes
to the Web sites after this document publishes in the Federal
Register.)
1. 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. (74 FR 3617 (January 21, 2009)),
Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0658, http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E9-938.pdf.
2. Interagency Retail Listeria monocytogenes Risk Assessment:
Notice of a Public Meeting. (74 FR 27276; June 9, 2009). Docket No.
FSIS-2009-0012, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-06-09/html/E9-13378.htm.
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 will also 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 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 is also available on the FSIS
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic 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/. 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. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, or
audiotape) 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.
Done at Washington, DC, on April 18, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-09508 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P