[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29104-29106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14387Filed]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Food and Drug 
Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Russian 
Federation

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing notice of 
a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between FDA and the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture and

[[Page 29105]]

the Russian Federation. The purpose of the MOU is to exchange 
information and identify and implement technical cooperation and 
training activities for specialists for imported and domestic food in 
several areas.

DATES: The agreement became effective March 29, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank M. MacKeith, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-585), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4045.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 21 CFR 20.108(c), which 
states that all written agreements and memoranda of understanding 
between FDA and others shall be published in the Federal Register, the 
agency is publishing notice of this memorandum of understanding.

    Dated: May 30, 1996.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.

225-96-2005

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Food and Drug Administration of 
the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of 
America and the Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department of 
Agriculture of the United States of America and the State Committee for 
Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Russian Federation and 
the Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, Metrology 
and Certification Concerning Technical Cooperation and Information 
Exchange on Food Safety, Quality Control, and Labeling to Promote 
Public Health and Facilitate Trade

The Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and 
Human Services of the United States of America,
and
The Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department of Agriculture of 
the United States of America,
on the one hand; and
The State Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance 
(GOSKOMSANEPIDNADZOR) of the Russian Federation,
and
The Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, 
Metrology and Certification (GOSSTANDART),
on the other hand;
    In keeping with the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of 
Public Health and Biomedical Research signed on January 14, 1994, by 
the Governments of the United States and the Russian Federation,
    Desiring to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation 
between the Russian Federation and the United States of America,
    Recognizing that both the Russian Federation and the United 
States of America give special importance to the protection of 
public health by way of ensuring the safety, quality, and correct 
labeling of food,
    Desiring to facilitate the trade of food between the Russian 
Federation and the United States of America,
    And noting that increasing global trade of food and global trade 
agreements require that governments work to harmonize sanitary 
measures while not compromising food safety,
    Have reached the following general understanding to guide their 
cooperation:

I. Objectives

The objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding are to:
    A. Exchange information and identify and implement technical 
cooperation and training activities for specialists, including 
conducting workshops. These activities may be undertaken for 
imported and domestic food in the following areas: food safety, 
quality, labeling, laws and regulations; food examination, 
sanitation and control procedures and policies; risk assessment; 
analytical methodology; consumer food hygiene education; and other 
areas where additional information is needed concerning either 
side's food safety, quality control, and labeling systems.
    B. Assist in ensuring transparency in the establishment and 
application of each side's sanitary measures.
    C. Identify the systems used by each side and the type of 
documents that would be acceptable to each side to demonstrate the 
safety, quality, and labeling of food in accordance with the laws in 
the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
    D. Provide confidence and build foundations for future 
agreements to ensure the safety, quality and correct labeling of 
food and to facilitate food trade for both the Russian Federation 
and the United States of America.
    E. Develop and enhance systems for consideration and resolution 
of issues related to food safety, quality, and labeling to promote 
public health and facilitate trade between the Russian Federation 
and the United States of America.
    F. Exchange information on the activities and deliberations of 
international food safety and quality standard-setting 
organizations, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Facilitate 
the participation in such international organizations, and work 
within the framework of multilateral agreements toward harmonization 
of food requirements.
    G. Provide distribution of information on each government's food 
import requirements to exporters in the Russian Federation and the 
United States of America.

II. Implementation

To achieve these goals, both sides intend to:
    A. Meet and consult periodically to discuss emerging issues and 
to promote cooperation in carrying out the objectives of this 
Memorandum of Understanding. Meetings should alternate between the 
Russian Federation and the United States of America and will be held 
on mutually agreeable dates and at mutually agreeable places. Each 
side should designate a Chairperson. Together, they should develop 
meeting agendas and circulate appropriate information to 
participants prior to the meeting. Agenda topics and briefing papers 
should be identified as items for active discussion, information 
requests, or training needs. In addition, the Chairperson for the 
host country should be responsible for preparing and obtaining 
agreement on the minutes of the meeting.
    B. Facilitate the import and export of food through the exchange 
of regulatory information on sanitary measures, requirements, and 
standards.
    C. Work towards identifying the kinds of documents that 
demonstrate safety, quality, and correct labeling of food in 
accordance with the regulations and laws of the Russian Federation 
and the United States of America.
    D. Identify and consider conducting technical cooperation and 
training programs for specialists from GOSKOMSANEPIDNADZOR, 
GOSSTANDART, and the Institute of Nutrition, Russian Academy of 
Medical Sciences.
    E. Facilitate cooperation between the scientific centers of the 
Russian Federation and the United States of America, working in the 
area of food safety, quality, and labeling.
    F. Provide information, as available, on the safety, quality, 
and labeling of food for export and on the manufacturers, producers 
or processors of this food.
    All activities carried out under this Memorandum of 
Understanding are subject to the availability of appropriated funds, 
resources and personnel and are to be conducted in accordance with 
the laws of the Russian Federation and the United States of America.

III. Coordinators

    Each participant in this Memorandum of Understanding should name 
a contact person to assist in logistical activities, and coordinate 
followup actions and implement the decisions reached during the 
meetings.
    Activities under this Memorandum of Understanding will begin on 
the last date of signature of all participants. After the first year 
the participants plan to evaluate the Memorandum, thereafter, no 
less than once every 5 years. It may be amended by mutual written 
consent or terminated by any participant upon a 60-day written 
notice to the other participants.
Done in duplicate, in the Russian and English languages.

For the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of 
America:

/s/ Donna E. Shalala
January 30, 1996
Washington, D.C.


[[Page 29106]]



For the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America: and 
Certification:

/s/ Richard E. Rominger
January 30, 1996
Washington, D.C.

For the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America:

/s/ Mary Pendergast
January 30, 1996
Washington, D.C.

For the State Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance 
of the Russian Federation:

/s/ G. G. Onitshenko
January 30, 1996
Washington, D.C.

For the Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, 
Metrology, and Certification:

/s/ S. Bezverkhi
March 29, 1996
Moscow, Russian Federation


[FR Doc. 96-14387Filed 6-06-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F