[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25059-25060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12116]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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


Microbial Safety of Produce; Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing three 
public meetings to discuss the President's initiative to ensure the 
safety of imported and domestic fruits and vegetables and other foods, 
and specifically the microbial safety of produce. The meetings are 
intended to give an overview of, and obtain comment on, the general 
draft guide entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize 
Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables'' (the 
proposed guide). One of the meetings will focus primarily on obtaining 
comment from the international audience.
DATES: See Table 1 in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the meetings and on the proposed 
guide to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Submit written requests for single copies of the proposed guide to Lou 
Carson, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 200 C St. SW., 
rm. 3812, Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-8920. Send one self-adhesive 
address label to assist that office in processing your request. 
Comments on the meetings or on the proposed guide should be identified 
with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this 
document.
    The meetings will be at the addresses and on the dates listed in 
Table 1. Registration is not required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Camille E. Brewer, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-32), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-1784, FAX 202-260-9653, e-
mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 2, 1997, the President announced the ``Initiative to 
Ensure the Safety of Imported and Domestic Fruits and Vegetables'' 
(fresh produce safety initiative). As part of the fresh produce safety 
initiative, the President directed the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), in cooperation with the agricultural community, to issue, 
within 1 year, guidance on good agricultural practices and good 
manufacturing practices for fresh fruits and vegetables. FDA is 
coordinating the effort for DHHS.
    As part of this effort, FDA and USDA held a series of public 
meetings between November 17, 1997, and December 12, 1997, to provide 
the details on a broad approach on how to minimize microbial 
contamination through the control of water, manure, worker health and 
hygiene, field and facility sanitation, and transportation. A draft 
guide entitled ``Working Draft: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety 
Hazards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables'' was made available on FDA's 
World Wide Web (WWW) home page (http://www.fda.gov) and at each public 
meeting. Transcripts of these meetings and all comments received on the 
working draft of the proposed guide are on file in the Dockets 
Management Branch (address above) under the docket number found in 
brackets in the heading of this document and are accessible via the FDA 
home page on the WWW (http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm).
    In the Federal Register of April 13, 1998 (63 FR 18029), FDA 
published a notice of availability of the proposed guide that responded 
to comments received on the working draft of the guide. The revised 
draft entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial 
Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables'' is available on 
the FDA home page on the WWW (http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/
default.htm).
    The public meetings will include an overview of the President's 
fresh produce safety initiative and a review of the proposed guide. The 
meetings are intended to obtain comment on the specific recommendations 
made in the

[[Page 25060]]

proposed guide and how the recommendations might best be applied.

II. Requests for Comments

    Interested persons may submit written comments on the meetings and 
on the proposed guide to the Dockets Management Branch (address above). 
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. A copy of the 
proposed guide and received comments are available for public 
examination in the office above between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

III. Transcripts

    Transcripts of the meetings 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 each meeting at a cost of 10 cents per page. The 
transcripts of the meetings will be available for public examination at 
the Dockets Management Branch (address above).
    Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special 
accommodations should notify the contact person referenced above by 
February 19, 1998.

IV. Electronic Access

    Transcripts of the meetings will be available on the Internet using 
the WWW (http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm). The proposed 
guide is available at the same address.

                        Table 1.--Public Meetings                       
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        Meeting address          Date and local time  FDA contact person
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WASHINGTON, DC: Department of    May 19, 1998,        Marilyn Veek, Food
 Health and Human Services,       Tuesday, 10 a.m.     and Drug         
 Hubert Humphrey Bldg., rm.       to 5 p.m.            Administration,  
 800, 200 and Independence                             Office of        
 Ave., Washington, DC 20201.                           International    
                                                       Affairs (HFG-1), 
                                                       5600 Fishers     
                                                       Lane, Rockville, 
                                                       MD 20857, 301-827-
                                                       0906             
MIAMI: Miami Dade County         May 21, 1998,        Estela Niella-    
 Cooperative Extension Service    Thursday, 10 a.m.    Brown, Food and  
 Agriculture Center,18710 SW.     to 5 p.m.            Drug             
 288th St., Homestead, FL 33033.                       Administration,  
                                                       P.O. Box 59-2256,
                                                       Miami, FL 33159- 
                                                       2256, 305-526-   
                                                       2800, ext. 930.  
SAN DIEGO: Malcolm X Branch      May 27, 1998,        Rosario           
 Library Multipurpose Room,       Wednesday, 10 a.m.   Quintanilla Vior,
 5148 Market St., San Diego, CA   to 5 p.m.            Food and Drug    
 92114.                                                Administration,  
                                                       19900 MacArthur  
                                                       Blvd., suite 300,
                                                       Irvine, CA 92612-
                                                       2445, 714-798-   
                                                       7607.            
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    Dated: May 1, 1998.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 98-12116 Filed 5-4-98; 1:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F