[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 42608] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-21282] ======================================================================== 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. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 153 / Monday, August 10, 1998 / Notices [[Page 42608]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 98-046N] Codex Alimentarius: Meeting of the Codex Committee on General Principles AGENCY: Office of the Undersecretary for Food Safety, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Undersecretary for Food Safety is sponsoring a public meeting on August 14, 1998, to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items to be discussed at the Thirteenth Session of the General Principles Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held in Paris, France, September 7-11, 1998. DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 14, 1998, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Massachusetts Avenue and 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Written comments should be sent to: Patrick J. Clerkin, Associate U.S. Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 4861, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Clerkin, Associate U.S. Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection Service; Telephone: (202) 205-7760; Fax: (202) 720-3157. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was established in 1962 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Codex is the principal international organization for encouraging fair international trade in food and protecting the health and economic interests of consumers. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to ensure that the world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from adulteration and correctly labeled. In the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; and the Environmental Protection Agency manage and carry out U.S. Codex duties. The Codex Committee on General Principles was established to develop principles for procedural and general matters referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These matters have included the establishment of general principles defining the purpose and scope of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the nature of Codex standards and the forms of acceptance by countries of Codex standards, and the development of guidelines for Codex committees. The Undersecretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the Thirteenth Session of the General Principles Committee of Codex and to address items on the agenda. For this reason, the Office of the Undersecretary is holding this public meeting and seeking oral comments or written submissions on the agenda items presented. Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting The following specific issues will be discussed during the public meeting: 1. Adoption of the Agenda. 2. Matters referred by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other Codex Committees. 3. Risk Analysis. a. Definitions related to Risk Management. b. Working Principles for Risk Analysis. c. Food safety objectives. 4. Measures intended to facilitate consensus. 5. Review of the General Principles of Codex. a. Consideration of special treatment for developing countries. b. Revision of the Acceptance Procedure. 6. Review of the status and objectives of Codex texts. 7. Review of the Statements of Principles on the Role of Science and Extent to which Other Factors are taken into Account--Application in the case of Bovine somatotropin and Porcine somatotropin. 8. Revision of the Procedural Manual. a. Procedures concerning the participation of international non- governmental organizations. b. Other aspects. 9. Review of the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Foods. Done at Washington, DC. F. Edward Scarbrough, U.S. Manager for Codex. [FR Doc. 98-21282 Filed 8-7-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P