[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29313-29314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14142]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Parts 101, 161, and 501

[Docket No. 92P-0441]


Food Labeling; Net Quantity of Contents; Compliance; Extension of 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending to 
September 2, 1997, the comment period for a proposal to revise the 
agency's human and animal food labeling regulations that pertain to 
declarations of net quantity of contents on food packages. The proposed 
rule was published in the Federal Register of March 4, 1997 (62 FR 
9826). The agency is taking this action in response to two requests for 
an extension of the comment period. This extension is intended to 
provide interested persons with additional time to submit comments to 
FDA on its proposal.

DATES: Written comments by September 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23, 
Rockville, MD 20857.


[[Page 29314]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loretta A. Carey, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-158), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-5099.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of March 4, 1997 (62 
FR 9826), FDA published a proposed rule to revise its human and animal 
food labeling regulations that pertain to declarations of net quantity 
of contents on food packages. That proposal set out procedures for 
determining whether net quantity of contents declarations accurately 
reflect the amount of product in food packages. Interested persons were 
given until June 2, 1997, to comment on the proposed rule.
    FDA has received letters from trade associations that represent 
major segments of both the food and feed industries requesting the 
agency to grant a 90-day extension of the comment period on its 
proposed rule for determining compliance for net quantity of contents 
declarations. The requests argued that the proposed regulation is 
unusually technical in nature and includes procedures that will affect 
both food and feed manufacturers and consumers. The requests contend 
that additional time is needed for interested persons to evaluate fully 
the impact of the proposed regulation on various products and to assess 
and develop potential alternatives to the proposed procedures. The 
agency acknowledges that the proposed rule is quite technical in nature 
and, after careful consideration, has decided to grant an extension of 
the comment period until September 2, 1997.
     Interested persons may, on or before September 2, 1997, submit to 
the Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments 
regarding this proposed rule. Two copies of any comments are to be 
submitted, except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to 
be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading 
of this document. Received comments may be seen in the office above 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    Dated: May 13, 1997.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 97-14142 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F