[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 42608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21282]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 153 / Monday, August 10, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 42608]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-046N]


Codex Alimentarius: Meeting of the Codex Committee on General 
Principles

AGENCY: Office of the Undersecretary for Food Safety, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Undersecretary for Food Safety is sponsoring 
a public meeting on August 14, 1998, to provide information and receive 
public comments on agenda items to be discussed at the Thirteenth 
Session of the General Principles Committee of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission, which will be held in Paris, France, September 7-11, 1998.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 14, 1998, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in the Washington Plaza 
Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Massachusetts Avenue and 14th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20005. Written comments should be sent to: Patrick J. 
Clerkin, Associate U.S. Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, Room 4861, South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Clerkin, Associate U.S. 
Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service; Telephone: (202) 205-7760; Fax: (202) 720-3157.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was established in 1962 
by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture 
Organization and the World Health Organization. Codex is the principal 
international organization for encouraging fair international trade in 
food and protecting the health and economic interests of consumers. 
Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice and other 
guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption 
and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to ensure that the 
world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from adulteration and 
correctly labeled. In the United States, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and 
Human Services; and the Environmental Protection Agency manage and 
carry out U.S. Codex duties.
    The Codex Committee on General Principles was established to 
develop principles for procedural and general matters referred to it by 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These matters have included the 
establishment of general principles defining the purpose and scope of 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the nature of Codex standards and 
the forms of acceptance by countries of Codex standards, and the 
development of guidelines for Codex committees.
    The Undersecretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of 
providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background 
information on the Thirteenth Session of the General Principles 
Committee of Codex and to address items on the agenda. For this reason, 
the Office of the Undersecretary is holding this public meeting and 
seeking oral comments or written submissions on the agenda items 
presented.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following specific issues will be discussed during the public 
meeting:
    1. Adoption of the Agenda.
    2. Matters referred by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other 
Codex Committees.
    3. Risk Analysis.
    a. Definitions related to Risk Management.
    b. Working Principles for Risk Analysis.
    c. Food safety objectives.
    4. Measures intended to facilitate consensus.
    5. Review of the General Principles of Codex.
    a. Consideration of special treatment for developing countries.
    b. Revision of the Acceptance Procedure.
    6. Review of the status and objectives of Codex texts.
    7. Review of the Statements of Principles on the Role of Science 
and Extent to which Other Factors are taken into Account--Application 
in the case of Bovine somatotropin and Porcine somatotropin.
    8. Revision of the Procedural Manual.
    a. Procedures concerning the participation of international non-
governmental organizations.
    b. Other aspects.
    9. Review of the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Foods.

    Done at Washington, DC.
F. Edward Scarbrough,
U.S. Manager for Codex.
[FR Doc. 98-21282 Filed 8-7-98; 8:45 am]
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