[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36654-36655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17837]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-031N]
Technologies for the Detection and Reduction of Pathogens To
Improve Food Safety
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; Request for Technical Papers and Presenters
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold a conference
on ``Technology to Improve Food Safety'' on July 28, 1998, in
Washington, DC. The purpose of the conference is to focus on emerging
technologies that aid in the detection of pathogens and on pathogen
interventions that help to ensure food safety within the farm-to-table
continuum. The emphasis will be on both existing and emerging
technologies to detect pathogens, including those which are close to
practical application within the farm-to-table continuum.
DATES: The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on July
28, 1998. Abstracts of scientific papers must be received no later than
COB July 8, 1998; the final papers no later than COB July 20, 1998. The
Conference will be held in two sessions: Technologies for Reducing
Pathogens and Technologies for Detecting Pathogens. Please specify for
which session the paper is intended. Two copies of the abstracts and
final papers should be sent to Ms. Mary Harris at the address below.
[[Page 36655]]
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Federal Hall Ballroom of the
Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005. To
register for the meeting, contact Ms. Harris at (202) 501-7315, FAX to
(202) 501-7615, or E-mail to [email protected]. If a sign language
interpreter or other special accommodation is necessary, please contact
Ms. Harris by July 14, 1998. Ms. Harris' address is FSIS, Franklin
Court Building, Room 6904, 1099 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20250-
3700. All technical papers, comments, and data about the meeting will
be available for public viewing after August 15, 1998, in the FSIS
Docket Room, Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, 300 12th Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William J. Hudnall, Assistant
Deputy Administrator, Office of Policy, Program Development, and
Evaluation at (202) 205-0495 or FAX to (202) 401-1760.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 12 and 13, 1995, FSIS convened a scientific and technical
conference in Chicago as part of a series of outreach activities
associated with the Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (HACCP) proposed rule. The purpose of the conference was
to solicit public comment about what actions FSIS should take to
encourage innovative technologies that could contribute to overall
efforts to improve food safety. The upcoming July 28 conference is
intended to be a follow-up to the 1995 conference. FSIS continues to
believe that the development and proper use of technology can
contribute significantly to ensuring the safety of the food supply, and
the Agency will continue to foster such development and use. The
upcoming conference will explore current food technology and should
stimulate the development of beneficial innovations to ensure food
safety, particularly with regard to the reduction of pathogens.
Since the 1995 conference, many meat and poultry plants have
implemented 3 interventions, such as steam pasteurization and carcass
rinses, that are effective in reducing pathogens on meat and poultry.
New developments also have been made in irradiation technology. The
conference will provide an opportunity to disseminate information that
can lead to the timely introduction of these and other beneficial
emerging technologies into more establishments.
1998 Conference Agenda
The conference will consist of two sessions:
Session I: ``Technologies for Reducing Pathogens''
This session will cover emerging technologies for reducing
pathogens throughout the farm-to-table continuum. FSIS has stressed the
importance of a farm-to-table approach to food safety. Although FSIS
does not have authority to impose controls at the farm level, it
continues to believe that public concerns about pathogens and foodborne
illness will stimulate action at this level to help improve food
safety. In slaughter and processing plants, the Agency continues to be
interested in advances that will enhance the safety of meat and poultry
products. In addition, FSIS is working with the Food and Drug
Administration and State and local food regulatory officials to ensure
that food safety issues are adequately addressed in transport, retail,
storage, and food service settings. The Agency remains firmly committed
to its farm-to-table strategy.
Session II: ``Technologies for Detecting Pathogens''
This session will address both existing and emerging technologies
to detect pathogens, including those which are close to practical
application within the farm-to-table continuum.
At each session, invited speakers from FSIS, other government
agencies, industry, consumer groups, and academia will give
presentations. In addition, FSIS is soliciting the submission of
technical papers on emerging technology and will invite selected
submitters to give 5-minute presentations summarizing their papers. If
the same subject is covered in more than one paper, FSIS will have the
authors combine their presentations for a single 5-minute presentation
or select the author of the first paper submitted on the subject. FSIS
will moderate each session and will be joined by a panel consisting of
representatives from government agencies, industry, academia, and
consumer groups. This panel will have an opportunity to question the
presenters and to discuss the technology. Each session will conclude
with an open discussion period to allow participants to briefly state
their views and ask questions.
Speakers or other interested persons who will require exhibition
space or special equipment to enhance their presentations should
specify their needs by contacting Ms. Mary Harris at the address above.
This request should be included with the paper. Based on the number of
requests for space received by July 8, 1998, FSIS will determine
whether it will be able to make exhibition space available.
Done in Washington, DC, on June 26, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-17837 Filed 7-6-98; 8:45 am]
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