[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 843-844] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-165] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 98-063N] Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are sponsoring public meetings on January 13, 1999, and February 3, 1999, to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the Seventh Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), in Melbourne, Australia, February 22-26, 1999. The Office of the Under Secretary and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the Seventh Session of the CCFICS and to address items on the agenda. DATES: The public meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, January 13, 1999, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Wednesday, February 3, 1999, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held in Room 1813, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC. Send an original and two copies of comments to: FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket Number 98-063N, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection in the Docket Clerk's Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Clerkin, Associate U.S. Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Telephone: (202) 205-7760; Fax: (202) 720-3157. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was established in 1962 by two [[Page 844]] 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. CCFICS was established to develop principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification systems; the application of measures by competent authorities of importing and exporting countries to provide assurance that foods comply with essential requirements; the utilization of quality assurance systems; and the format and content of official certificates. Issues to be Discussed at the Public Meetings The following issues will be discussed during the public meetings:Draft Guidelines for the Development of Equivalence Agreements Regarding Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems at Step 7 Proposed Draft Guidelines/Recommendations for Food Import Control Systems (New Work) Proposed Draft Guidelines and Criteria for Official Certificate Formats and Rules Relating to the Production and Issuance of Certificates (New Work) Discussion Paper on Issues Relating to the Judgement of Equivalence Discussion Paper on the Utilization and Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems Discussion Paper on Guidelines for the Establishment of a Database on Importing Country Legislation In advance of these meetings, the U.S. Delegate to CCFICS will have assigned the responsibility for development of U.S. positions on these issues to various members of the federal government. The individuals assigned will be named at the January 13 public meeting. Additionally, at the January 13 public meeting, the issues will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments. At the February 3 public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the issues will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments. During the public meetings, all interested parties are invited to provide information and comments on the above issues or any other issues that may be brought before CCFICS. Comments may also be sent to the FSIS Docket Clerk (see ADDRESSES). Please state that your comments relate to CCFICS activities and specify which issues your comments address. F. Edward Scarbrough, U.S. Manager for Codex. [FR Doc. 99-165 Filed 1-5-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P