[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 40297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20038]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 98F-0567]
The Dow Chemical Co.; Filing of Food Additive Petition
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that The
Dow Chemical Co. has filed a petition proposing that the food additive
regulations be amended to provide for the expanded safe use of
copolymers of ethylene and octene-1 as articles or components of
articles contacting food.
DATES: Written comments on the petitioner's environmental assessment by
August 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julius Smith, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-215), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C
St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-418-3091.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (sec. 409(b)(5) (21 U.S.C. 348(b)(5))), notice is given that a food
additive petition (FAP 8B4601) has been filed by The Dow Chemical Co.,
2030 Dow Center, Midland, MI 48674. The petition proposes to amend the
food additive regulations in Sec. 177.1520 Olefin polymers (21 CFR
177.1520) to expand the safe use of ethylene-octene-1 copolymers as
articles or components of articles contacting food by lowering the
required level of polymer units derived from ethylene to not less than
50 weight percent.
The potential environmental impact of this action is being
reviewed. To encourage public participation consistent with regulations
promulgated under the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR
1501.4(b)), the agency is placing the environmental assessment
submitted with the petition that is the subject of this notice on
public display at the Dockets Management Branch (address above) for
public review and comment. Interested persons may, on or before August
27, 1998, submit to the Dockets Management Branch (address above)
written comments. 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. FDA will also place
on public display any amendments to, or comments on, the petitioner's
environmental assessment without further announcement in the Federal
Register. If, based on its review, the agency finds that an
environmental impact statement is not required and this petition
results in a regulation, the notice of availability of the agency's
finding of no significant impact and the evidence supporting that
finding will be published with the regulation in the Federal Register
in accordance with 21 CFR 25.40(c).
Dated: July 6, 1998.
Laura M. Tarantino,
Acting Director, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition.
[FR Doc. 98-20038 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F