Browse: Departments Dates Agencies
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Docket ID: [FDMS Docket No. FSIS-2008-0004]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: International Standard-Setting Activities
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary standardsetting activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Public Law 103465, 108 Stat. 4809. This notice also provides a list of other standardsetting activities of Codex, including commodity standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts. This notice, which covers the time periods from June 1, 2007, to May 31, 2008, and June 1, 2008, to May 31, 2009, seeks comments on standards under consideration and recommendations for new standards.
SUMMARY: International Standard-Setting Activities,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
BackgroundThe World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1, 1995, as the common international institutional framework for the conduct of trade relations among its members in matters related to the Uruguay Round Trade Agreements. The WTO is the successor organization to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). U.S. membership in the WTO was approved and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act was signed into law by the President on December 8, 1994. The Uruguay Round Agreements became effective, with respect to the United States, on January 1, 1995. Pursuant to section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, the President is required to designate an agency to be ``responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standardsetting activities of each international standardsetting organization.'' The main organizations are Codex, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the International Plant Protection Convention. The President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15845), designated the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the agency responsible for informing the public of SPS standardsetting activities of each international standardsetting organization. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to the Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the responsibility to inform the public of the SPS standardsetting activities of Codex. The FSIS Administrator has, in turn, assigned the responsibility for informing the public of the SPS standardsetting activities of Codex to the U.S. Codex Office, FSIS.
Codex was created in 1962 by two U.N. organizations, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
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 protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trade practices in the
food trade, and promote coordination of food standards work undertaken
by international governmental and nongovernmental organizations. In
the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
[[Page 31951]]
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) manage and carry out U.S. Codex activities.
As the agency responsible for informing the public of the SPS standardsetting activities of Codex, FSIS publishes this notice in the Federal Register annually. Attachment 1 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex) sets forth the following information:
1. The SPS standards under consideration or planned for consideration; and
2. For each SPS standard specified:
a. A description of the consideration or planned consideration of the standard;
b. Whether the United States is participating or plans to participate in the consideration of the standard;
c. The agenda for United States participation, if any; and
d. The agency responsible for representing the United States with respect to the standard.
To Obtain Copies of Those Standards Listed in Attachment 1 That Are
Under Consideration by Codex, Please Contact the Codex Delegate or the
U.S. Codex Office. This notice also solicits public comment on those
standards that are currently under consideration or planned for
consideration and recommendations for new standards. The delegate, in
conjunction with the responsible agency, will take the comments
received into account in participating in the consideration of the
standards and in proposing matters to be considered by Codex.
The United States delegate will facilitate public participation in the United States Government's activities relating to Codex Alimentarius. The United States delegate will maintain a list of individuals, groups, and organizations that have expressed an interest in the activities of the Codex committees and will disseminate information regarding United States delegation activities to interested parties. This information will include the status of each agenda item; the United States Government's position or preliminary position on the agenda items; and the time and place of planning meetings and debriefing meetings following Codex committee sessions. In addition, the U.S. Codex Office makes much of the same information available through its Web page, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_ Policies/Codex_Alimentarius/index.asp. Please visit the Web page or notify the appropriate U.S. delegate or the U.S. Codex Office, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 202503700, if you would like to access or receive information about specific committees.
The information provided in Attachment 1 describes the status of Codex standardsetting activities by the Codex Committees for the time periods from June 1, 2007, to May 31, 2008, and June 1, 2008, to May 31, 2009. Attachment 2 provides the list of U.S. Codex Officials (includes U.S. delegates and alternate delegates). A list of forthcoming Codex sessions may be found at: http:// www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp?lang=en.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2008NoticesIndex/. 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. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition,
FSIS offers an email 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/newsandevents/
emailsubscription/. 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.
Done at Washington, DC on: May 30, 2008.
Paulo Almeida,
Acting Manager U.S. Codex.
Attachment 1:Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex Codex Alimentarius Commission and Executive Committee
The Codex Alimentarius Commission will hold its ThirtyFirst Session June 30July 4, 2008, in Rome, Italy. At that time, it will consider standards, codes of practice, and related matters brought to its attention by the general subject committees, commodity committees, ad hoc Task Forces and member delegations. It will also consider options to implement recommendations from the review of Codex committee structure and mandates of Codex committees and task forces, the management of the Trust Fund for the Participation of Developing Countries and Countries in Transition in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius, as well as budgetary and strategic planning issues. At this Session, the Commission will elect a Chairperson and three Vice Chairpersons.
Prior to the Commission meeting, the Executive Committee will have
met at its SixtyFirst Session on June 2427, 2008. It is composed of
the chairperson, vicechairpersons, and seven members elected from the
Commission, one from each of the following geographic regions: Africa,
Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, North
America, and SouthWest Pacific. Additionally, regional coordinators
from the six regional committees serve as members of the Executive
Committee. It will consider the Codex Strategic Plan 20082013; review
the Codex committee structure and mandate of Codex committees and task
forces; review matters arising from reports of Codex Committees,
proposals for new work, and standards management issues; and review the Trust Fund.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
determines priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary
drugs in foods and recommends Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for
veterinary drugs. The Committee also develops codes of practice as may
be required and considers methods of sampling and analysis for the
determination of veterinary drug residues in food. A veterinary drug is
defined as any substance applied or administered to a food producing animal, such as meat or
[[Page 31952]]
milk producing animals, poultry, fish or bees, whether used for
therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or behavior.
A Codex Maximum Limit for Residues of Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD) is the maximum concentration of residue resulting from the use of a veterinary drug (expressed in mg/kg or ug/kg on a fresh weight basis) that is recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be permitted or recognized as acceptable in or on a food. An MRLVD is based on the type and amount of residue considered to be without any toxicological hazard for human health as expressed by the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) or on the basis of a temporary ADI that utilizes an additional safety factor. The MRLVD also takes into account other relative public health risks as well as food technological aspects.
When establishing an MRLVD, consideration is also given to residues that occur in food of plant origin or the environment. Furthermore, the MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the use of veterinary drugs and to the extent that practical analytical methods are available.
An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is an estimate by the Joint FAO/ WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the amount of a veterinary drug, expressed on a body weight basis, that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk (standard man = 60 kg).
The 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods met in Breckenridge, Colorado, on September 37, 2007.
The following items will be considered by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
To be considered at Step 8:
To be considered at Step 5/8:
The Committee completed work on the following:
The Committee will continue work on the following:
The following work will be discontinued:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) was established by the 29th Session of the Commission when it decided to split the former Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants into two committees. The CCCF establishes or endorses permitted maximum levels for contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed, prepares priority lists of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), considers methods of analysis and sampling for the determination of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed, considers and elaborates standards or codes of practice for related subject, and considers other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed. The Committee held its second session in The Hague, Netherlands from March 31stApril 4, 2008. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/41. The following items are to be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission from June 30July 4, 2008.
To be considered for adoption:
To be considered at Step 8:
Monocloropropane1,2diol (3MCPD) during the Production of Acid Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (AcidHVPs) and Products that Contain AcidHVPs.
To be considered at Step 5/8:
To be considered at Step 5:
New Work:
The Committee is continuing to work on:
[[Page 31953]]
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Additives
The Codex Committee on Food Additives was reestablished by the
29th Session of the Commission, which split the former Codex Committee
on Additives and Contaminants into two committees. The Committee is to
establish or endorse permitted maximum levels for individual food
additives, prepare a priority list of food additives for risk
assessment by JECFA, assign functional classes to individual food
additives, recommend specifications of identity and purity for food
additives for adoption by the Commission, consider methods of analysis
for the determination of additives in food, and to consider and
elaborate standard for codes for related subjects such as the labeling
of food additives when sold as such. The Committee met in Beijing,
China, on April 1525, 2008. The relevant document is ALINORM 8/31/12.
The following items will be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission in June 2008.
To be considered for adoption:
To be considered at Step 8 and 5/8:
To be considered at Step 8:
To be considered at Step 5/8:
The Committee will continue to work on:
Discontinued work:
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues recommends to the Codex Alimentarius Commission establishment of maximum limits for pesticide residues for specific food items or in groups of food. A Codex Maximum Residue Limit for Pesticide (MRLP) is the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on food commodities and animal feeds. Foods derived from commodities that comply with the respective MRLPs are intended to be toxicologically acceptable, that is, consideration of the various dietary residue intake estimates and determinations both at the national and international level in comparison with the ADI*, should indicate that foods complying with Codex MRLPs are safe for human consumption.
Codex MRLPs are primarily intended to apply in international trade
and are derived from reviews conducted by the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).
(a) Review of residue data from supervised trials and supervised
uses, including those reflecting national good agricultural practices
(GAP). Data from supervised trials conducted at the highest nationally
recommended, authorized, or registered uses are included in the review.
In order to accommodate variations in national pest control
requirements, Codex MRLPs take into account the higher levels shown to
arise in such supervised trials, which are considered to represent effective pest control practices.
(b) Toxicological assessments of the pesticide and its residue. The
40th Session of the Committee met in Hangzhou, China, on April 1419,
2008. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/24. The following items
will be considered by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
To be considered at Step 8:
To be considered at Step 5/8:
To be considered at Step 5:
The committee is continuing work on:
New Work:
Discontinued work:
Responsible Agencies: EPA; USDA/AMS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling: [[Page 31954]]
(a) Defines the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis and Sampling;
(b) Serves as a coordinating body for Codex with other
international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and quality assurance systems for laboratories;
(c) Specifies, on the basis of final recommendations submitted to
it by the other bodies referred to in (b) above, Reference Methods of
Analysis and Sampling appropriate to Codex Standards which are generally applicable to a number of foods;
(d) Considers, amends if necessary, and endorses as appropriate
methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity)
Committees, except that methods of analysis and sampling for residues
of pesticides or veterinary drugs in food, the assessment of
microbiological quality and safety in food, and the assessment of
specifications for food additives do not fall within the terms of reference of this Committee;
(e) Elaborates sampling plans and procedures, as may be required;
(f) Considers specific sampling and analysis problems submitted to it by the Commission or any of its Committees; and
(g) Defines procedures, protocols, guidelines or related texts for
the assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as quality assurance systems for laboratories.
The 29th Session of the Committee met in Budapest, Hungary, on
March 1014, 2008. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/23. The
following items will be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission in June 2008:
To be adopted:
To be adopted at Step 5:
The Committee will continue to work on:
New Work:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/GIPSA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
The Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and
Certification Systems is charged with developing principles and
guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification
systems to protect consumers and to facilitate trade. Additionally, the
Committee develops principles and guidelines for the application of
measures by competent authorities to provide assurance that foods
comply with essential requirements, especially statutory health
requirements. This encompasses work on equivalence of food inspection
systems, including equivalence agreements, processes and procedures to
ensure that sanitary measures are implemented; guidelines on food
import control systems; and guidelines on food product certification
and information exchange. The development of guidelines for the
appropriate utilization of quality assurance systems to ensure that
foodstuffs conform to requirements and to facilitate trade also are
included in the Committee's terms of reference. The Committee met
November 2630, 2007. The reference document is ALINORM 08/31/30. The
following will be considered for adoption by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
To be considered at step 5/8:
Certificates
The committee is continuing work on:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on General Principles
The Codex Committee on General Principles deals with procedure and
general matters as are referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission. The 25th Session is tentatively scheduled to be held in
Paris, France, in April 2009. The Committee will continue to work on the following items:
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Labelling
The Codex Committee on Food Labelling drafts provisions on labeling
applicable to all foods; considers, amends, and endorses draft specific
provisions on labeling prepared by the Codex Committees drafting
standards, codes of practice and guidelines; and studies specific
labeling problems assigned by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This
Committee also studies problems associated with the advertisement of
food with particular reference to claims and misleading descriptions.
The Committee held its 36th Session in Ottawa, Canada, on April 28May
2, 2008. The reference document is ALINORM 08/31/22. The following
items are to be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission from June 30July 4, 2008.
To be considered at Step 8:
The Committee will continue to work on:
[[Page 31955]]
and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods: Annex 1 (inclusion of Ethylene for Other Products).
The Committee agreed to undertake new work on:
The Committee agreed to discontinue work on:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene has four primary responsibilities. The first is to draft basic provisions on food hygiene applicable to all food. These provisions normally take the form of Codes of Hygienic Practice for a specific commodity (e.g. bottled water) or group of commodities (e.g., milk and milk products). The second is to suggest and prioritize areas where there is a need for microbiological risk assessment at the international level and to consider microbiological risk management matters in relation to food hygiene and in relation to the risk assessment activities of FAO and WHO. The third is to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse food hygiene provisions that are incorporated into specific Codex commodity standards by the Codex Commodity Committees. The fourth and final responsibility is to provide such other general guidance to the Commission on matters relating to food hygiene as may be necessary. The 39th Session of the Committee met in New Delhi, India, on October 30 November 4, 2007. The relevant document is ALNORM 08/31/13.
The following items related to the activities of the Codex
Committee on Food Hygiene will be considered by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
To be considered for adoption at Step 5/8:
To be considered for approval as New Work:
To be considered for discontinuance of work:
The Committee will continue or begin work on:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is responsible
for elaborating worldwide standards and codes of practice for fresh
fruits and vegetables. The 14th Session of the Committee met in Mexico
City, Mexico on May 1217, 2008. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/
31/35. The following items will be considered by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
To be considered at Step 8:
To be considered at Step 5:
The Committee will continue working on:
New Work:
Discontinued Work:
Responsible Agencies: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
(CCNFSDU) is responsible for studying nutrition issues referred by the
Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Committee also drafts general
provisions, as appropriate, on nutritional aspects of all foods and
develops standards, guidelines, or related texts for foods for special
dietary uses. The Committee met November 1216, 2007, in Bad Neuenahr
Ahrweiler, Germany. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/26. The
following items will be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission in June 2008.
To be adopted at Step 8:
To be adopted at Step 5:
The Committee will continue work on:
[[Page 31956]]
Dietary Uses Intended for Infants and Young Children: Part D Advisory List of Food Additives for Special Nutrient Forms: Provisions on gum arabic (gum acacia).
New Work:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ARS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
The Fish and Fishery Products Committee is responsible for
elaborating standards for fresh, frozen and otherwise processed fish,
crustaceans, and molluscs. The Committee met on February 1823, 2008 in
Trondheim, Norway. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/18. The
following items will be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission in June 2008.
To be considered at Step 8:
The Committee will continue to work on:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDC/NOAA/NMFS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products is responsible for
establishing international codes and standards for milk and milk
products. The Committee held its 8th Session February 48, 2008, in
Queenstown, New Zealand. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/11. The
following items will be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission in June 2008.
To be considered for adoption:
At Step 8:
At Step 5/8:
At Step 5:
Other Committee Work:
Responsible Agencies: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils is responsible for elaborating
standards for fats and oils of animal, vegetable, and marine origin.
The Committee will hold its 21st Session in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on February 1620, 2009. The Committee is working on:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ARS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables is
responsible for elaborating standards for processed fruits and
vegetables. The Committee will hold its 24th Session in Washington, DC, on September 1519, 2008. The Committee is working on:
Responsible Agencies: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters
The Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters is responsible for
elaborating standards for all types of natural mineral water products.
The Committee was reactivated by the 30th Session of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission to address discrepancies of the healthrelated
limits of certain substances between the Codex Standard for Natural
Mineral Waters (CODEX STAN 1081981) and the current version of the WHO Guidelines for
[[Page 31957]]
Drinking Water Quality. The Committee should complete the task in no
more than two sessions and should propose a revised Section 3.2,
``Healthrelated limits for certain substances,'' of the Codex Standard
for Natural Mineral Waters for final adoption by the Commission at its
Session in 2009. The 8th Session of the Committee for Natural Mineral
Waters was held on February 1115, 2008, in Lugano, Switzerland. The
following items will be considered by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
To be considered at Step 5/8:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Certain Codex Commodity Committees
Several Codex Alimentarius Commodity Committees have adjourned sine die. The following Committees fall into this category:
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/ARS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/ARS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/GIPSA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
was created by the 29th Session of the Commission. The Task Force,
hosted by the Republic of Korea, has a time frame of four sessions,
which started with its first meeting in October 2007. Its objective is
to develop sciencebased guidance to assess the risks to human health
associated with the presence in food and feed, including aquaculture,
of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms and antimicrobial resistance
genes and to develop appropriate risk management advice based on that
assessment to reduce such risk. The first session of the Committee met
in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on October 2326, 2007. The relevant
document is Alinorm 08/31/42. The following items will be considered by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008:
To be considered for approval:
The Committee will continue to work on:
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived From Biotechnology
The Commission established this task force to develop standards, guidelines, or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods derived from biotechnology or traits introduced into foods by biotechnology, on the basis of scientific evidence, risk analysis and having regard, where appropriate, to other legitimate factors relevant to the health of consumers and the promotion of fair trade practices. The Task Force, established by the 23rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for a fouryear period of time, completed its work, but was re established at the 27th Session of the Commission. The relevant document is ALINORM 08/31/34. The Committee held its 7th Session in Chiba, Japan, September 2428, 2007. The following are to be considered at Step 5/8 by the Commission at its 31st Session in June 2008.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/APHIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods
The Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods was created by the 29th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to resolve all outstanding issues, including the quality and safety provisions, of the Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods. The Task Force, hosted by Thailand, was given two years to finalize the Code. Thailand and the United States prepared a Circular Letter requesting comments on a revised Code. The resulting document prepared from these comments served as the basis for discussion at the Session of the Task Force that took place on February 2529, 2008. The following item will be considered by the 31st Session of the Commission in June 2008:
To be considered at Step 5/8:
Responsible Agencies: FDA/HHS, USDA/AMS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is made up of an Executive
Committee, as well as approximately 30 subsidiary bodies. Included in
these subsidiary bodies are coordinating committees for groups of
countries located in proximity to each other who share common concerns. There are currently six Regional Coordinating Committees:
The United States participates as an active member of the
Coordinating Committee for North America and the SouthWest Pacific,
and is informed of the other coordinating committees through meeting
documents, final reports, and representation at meetings. Each regional committee:
[[Page 31958]]
food control and stimulates the strengthening of food control infrastructures;
Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the SouthWest Pacific
The Coordinating Committee (CCNASWP) is responsible for defining
problems and needs concerning food standards and food control of all
Codex member countries of the region. The next session of the committee
is tentatively scheduled for October 2730, 2008 in Tonga. Items on the agenda for the next meeting may include:
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Attachment 2U.S. Codex Alimentarius Officials
Codex Committee Chairpersons
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
Dr. Karen Hulebak, Chief Scientist, Office of Public Health Science,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4861, South Building, Washington,
DC 202503700, Phone: (202) 2057760, Fax: (202) 7203157, Email:
karen.hulebak@fsis.usda.gov. Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
Mr. Terry Bane, Branch Chief, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, AMS, Room 0709, South Building, Stop 9247, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 202500247, Phone: (202) 720
4693, Fax: (202) 6901087, Email: terry.bane@usda.gov. Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
Dr. Bernadette Dunham, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration,
7519 Standish Place (MPN4), Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: (240) 2769000,
Fax: (240) 2769001, Email: Bernadette.dunham@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (adjourned sine die) Vacant.
Listing of U.S. Delegates and Alternates Worldwide General Subject Codex Committees
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
(Host GovernmentUnited States)
U.S. Delegate, Steven D. Vaughn, D.V.M., Director, Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA, 7500 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: (301) 8271796, Fax: (301) 5942297, Email: SVaughn@cvm.fda.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Emilio Esteban, PhD, Laboratory Director, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, 950 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, Phone: (706) 5463429, Fax: (706) 5463428, Emilio.Esteban@fsis.usda.gov. Codex Committee on Food Additives
(Host GovernmentChina)
U.S. Delegate, Dennis M. Keefe, PhD, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS200), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (202) 4183113, Fax: (202) 4183131, Email: dennis.keefe@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Susan E. Carberry, PhD, Supervisory Chemist,
Division of Petition Review, Office of Food Additive Safety (HFS265),
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 4361269, Fax: (301) 4362972, Email:
Susan.Carberry@fda.hhs.gov. Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
(Host Governmentthe Netherlands)
U.S. Delegate, Nega Beru, PhD, Director, Office of Plant and Dairy
Foods (HFS300), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and
Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 4361700, Fax: (301) 4362651, Email:
Nega.Beru@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Kerry Dearfield, PhD, Scientific Advisor for
Risk Assessment, Office of Public Health Science, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 380, Aerospace Center, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 6906451, Fax: (202) 6906337, Email:
Kerry.Dearfield@fsis.usda.gov. Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
(Host GovernmentChina)
U.S. Delegate, Lois Rossi, Director of Registration Division,
Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Phone: (703) 3055035, Fax: (703) 3055147, Email:
rossi.lois@epa.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Robert Epstein, PhD, Associate Deputy Administrator, Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, Room 3522S, Mail Stop 0222, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20090, Phone: (202) 7202158, Fax: (202) 7201484, Email: robert.epstein@usda.gov. Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
(Host GovernmentHungary)
U.S. Delegate, Gregory Diachenko, PhD, Director, Division of Product Manufacture and Use, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Food and Drug Administration (HFS300), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (301) 4362387, Fax: (301) 436 2364, Email: gregory.diachenko@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Donald C. Kendall, Technical Services Division,
Grain, Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10383
[[Page 31959]]
N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 641531394, Phone: (816) 8910463,
Fax: (816) 8910478, Email: Donnald.C.Kendall@usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
(Host GovernmentAustralia)
U.S. Delegate, Catherine Carnevale, D.V.M, Director, International Affairs Staff, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS550), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (301) 436 2380, Fax: (301) 4362612, Email: catherine.carnevale@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Mary Stanley, Director, Import Inspection
Division, Office of International Affairs, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2147South Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 7200287,
Fax: (202) 7206050, Email: Mary.Stanley@fsis.usda.gov. Codex Committee on General Principles
(Host GovernmentFrance)
U.S.Delegate.
Note: A member of the Steering Committee heads the delegation to meetings of the General Principles Committee.
Codex Committee on Food Labeling
(Host GovernmentCanada)
U.S. Delegate, Barbara O. Schneeman, PhD, Director, Office of Nutritional Products, Labelling and Dietary Uses, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS800), College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 4362373, Fax: (301) 4362636, E mail: barbara.schneeman@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Heejeong Latimer, Risk Analyst, Risk Assessment
Division, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Rm. 333, Aerospace Center, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 6900823, Fax: (202) 2053625, Email:
Heejeong.Latimer@fsis.usda.gov. Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
(Host GovernmentUnited States)
U.S. Delegate, Robert L. Buchanan, PhD, Lead Scientist, Food Safety Initiative, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS006), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (301) 4362369, Fax: (301) 4362360, Email: robert.buchanan@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegates, Kerry Dearfield, PhD, Scientific Advisor for
Risk Assessment, Office of Public Health Science, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 380, Aerospace Center, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 6906451, Fax: (202) 6906337, Email:
Kerry.Dearfield@fsis.usda.gov.
Rebecca Buckner, PhD, Consumer Safety Officer, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Room 3B
0033 Harvey Wiley Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 4361486, Fax: (301) 4362632, Email:
rebecca.buckner@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (Host GovernmentGermany)
U.S. Delegate, Barbara O. Schneeman, PhD, Director, Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Highway (HFS800), College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 436 2373, Fax: (301) 4362636, Email: barbara.schneeman@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Allison Yates, PhD, Director, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg 307C, Room 117, Beltsville, MD 20705, Phone: (301) 5048157, Fax: (301) 5049381, E mail: Allison.Yates@ars.usda.gov. Worldwide Commodity Codex Committees Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
(Host GovernmentMexico)
U.S. Delegate, Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit and Vegetables Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 2086, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 6904944, Fax: (202) 7204722, Email: dorian.lafond@usda.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Michelle Smith, PhD, Interdisciplinary Scientist, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (301) 4362024, Fax: (301) 4362651, Email: Michelle.Smith@fda.hhs.gov. Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
(Host GovernmentNorway)
U.S. Delegate, Donald Kraemer, Acting Director, Office of Seafood, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (301) 4362300, Fax: (301) 4362599, Email: donald.kraemer@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Timothy Hansen, Director, Seafood Inspection
Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of
Commerce, Room 10837, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: (301) 7132355, Fax: (301) 7131081, Email:
Timothy.Hansen@noaa.gov.
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (adjournedsine die) (Host GovernmentUnited States
U.S. Delegate, Henry Kim, PhD, Supervisory Chemist, Division of Plant Product Safety, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 4362023, Fax: (301) 4362651, Email: henry.kim@fda.hhs.gov. Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
(Host GovernmentNew Zealand)
U.S. Delegate, Duane Spomer, Food Defense Advisor, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2750, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 7201861, Fax: (202) 2055772, Email: duane.spomer@usda.gov.
Alternate Delegate, John F. Sheehan, Director, Division of Dairy
and Egg Safety, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages, Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration
(HFS306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 4361488, Fax: (301) 4362632, E
mail: john.sheehan@fda.hhs.gov. [[Page 31960]]
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
(Host GovernmentUnited Kingdom)
U.S. Delegate, Dennis M. Keefe, PhD, Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS200), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 207403835, Phone: (301) 4361284, Fax: (301) 4362972, Email: dennis.keefe@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate, Kathleen Warner, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 1815 N. University
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karen Hulebak, PhD, Acting Manager, U.S. Codex Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 202503700; (202) 2057760. For information pertaining to particular committees, the delegate of that committee may be contacted. (A complete list of U.S. delegates and alternate delegates can be found in Attachment 2 to this notice.) Documents pertaining to Codex are accessible via the World Wide Web at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp. The U.S. Codex Office also maintains a Web site at http:// www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Codex_Alimentarius/ index.asp.
Common CFR Searches
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 47 CFR Part 73 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 33 CFR Part 117 50 CFR Part 17 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 50 CFR Part 622 44 CFR Part 65 50 CFR Part 660 26 CFR Part 301 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 6 CFR Part 5 40 CFR Part 271 47 CFR Part 64 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 50 CFR Part 665 44 CFR Part 64 10 CFR Part 50 49 CFR Part 571 47 CFR Part 76