[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60525-60526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29798]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 97N-0451]


Microbial Safety of Produce; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public 
meeting to discuss practices to minimize microbial food safety risks 
for produce as part of the President's initiative to ensure the safety 
of imported and domestic fruits and vegetables and other foods.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Monday, November 17, 1997, 
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Submit registration for the meeting and requests to 
make oral presentations by Wednesday, November 12, 1997. If you have 
written or published materials to be distributed at the public meeting, 
please bring at least 250 copies to the meeting. Written comments will 
be accepted until Friday, November 21, 1997.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Key Bridge Marriott, 
Potomac Ballroom Salons A, B, and C, 1401 Lee Hwy., Arlington, VA. 
Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), 
Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23, Rockville, 
MD 20857. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine M. DeRoever, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-22), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4251, FAX 202-205-4970, or 
e-mail ``[email protected]''. Send registration information 
(including name, title, firm name, address, telephone, and fax number), 
one copy of any material that you wish to distribute at the meeting, 
and requests to make oral presentations to the contact person.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 2, 1997, President Clinton 
announced an initiative to ensure the safety of imported and domestic 
produce and other foods. This initiative is geared to optimize the 
microbial safety of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables. As 
part of this initiative,

[[Page 60526]]

the President directed the Secretary of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS), in partnership with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in cooperation with 
the agricultural community, to issue guidance on good agricultural 
practices and good manufacturing practices for fruits and vegetables. 
FDA will coordinate the effort for DHHS. As part of this effort, FDA 
plans to publish a draft document for public comment early in 1998, and 
a final document later next year. To assist with these documents, FDA 
is particularly interested in information on how to minimize microbial 
contamination through the control of water, manure, worker sanitation 
and health, field and facility sanitation, and transportation and 
handling.

    Public input is planned through several avenues, including this 
public meeting. Both oral and written comments from the public are 
encouraged. A series of grassroots meetings will also be held 
throughout the country to discuss the initiative. The dates, locations, 
and times will be published in an upcoming issue of the Federal 
Register.
    Transcripts of the public meeting may be requested in writing from 
the Freedom of Information Office (HFI-35), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 12A-16, Rockville, MD 20857, 
approximately 15 working days after the meeting at a cost of 10 cents 
per page. The transcript of the public meeting and all submitted 
comments will be available for public examination at the Dockets 
Management Branch (address above) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

    Dated: November 5, 1997.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 97-29798 Filed 11-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F