[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 51053] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-25573] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ 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 appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 1998 / Notices [[Page 51053]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 98-053N] National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Renewal AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Rechartering of Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This notice announces the rechartering of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. The Committee is being renewed in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The establishment of the Committee was recommended by a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria, ``An Evaluation of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.'' The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with the enforcement of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). Under these Acts, USDA is responsible for the wholesomeness and safety of meat, poultry, and egg products intended for human consumption. Similarly, the Secretary of HHS is charged with the enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Under this Act, HHS is responsible for ensuring the safety of human foods other than meat, poultry, and egg products and of animal feeds. In order to continue to meet the responsibilities of FMIA, PPIA, EPIA, and FFDCA, the National Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods is being reestablished. The Committee will be tasked with advising and providing recommendations to the Secretaries on the development of microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed, including criteria for microorganisms that indicate whether foods have been processed using good manufacturing practices. Reestablishment of this Committee is necessary and in the public interest because the development of a sound public policy in this area can best be accomplished by a free and open exchange of information and ideas among Federal, State, and local agencies, and other interested parties. This complexity of the issues to be addressed assures that more than one meeting will be required to accomplish the Committee's tasks. Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after consultation with the Secretary of HHS. Because of their interest in the matters to be addressed by this Committee, advice on membership appointments will be requested from the Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Defense's Veterinary Service Activity. For additional information, please contact Ms. Amelia L. Wright, Advisory Committee Specialist, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Suite 6913 Franklin Court, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Background materials are available for inspection by contacting Ms. Wright at (202) 501-7343. Reba Evans, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration. [FR Doc. 98-25573 Filed 9-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P