[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54669-54670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27468]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-055N]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Food Hygiene

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA); the Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA; Food 
and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 
and the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
are sponsoring a public meeting on October 15, 1998, to provide 
information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be 
discussed at the Thirty-First Session of the Codex Committee on Food 
Hygiene, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, October 26-30, 1998.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 1998, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in Room 5066-S, South 
Agriculture Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Clerkin, U.S. Manager for 
Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 
4861, South Agriculture Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, 
SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. 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.
    The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene was established to draft basic 
provisions on food hygiene for all foods. The Government of the United 
States hosts this Committee and chairs the Committee meetings.
Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting
    The following specific issues will be discussed during the public 
meeting:

1. Report by the Secretariat on Matters      CX/FH 98/2
 Referred by the Codex Alimentarius
 Commission and/or Other Codex Committees
 to the Food Hygiene Committee, including
 the Proposed Draft Amendment to Section
 6.12 of the General Principles of Food
 Hygiene at Step 4.
2. Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines  CX/FH 98/3
 for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk
 Assessment at Step 7.
3. Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for       CX/FH 98/4
 Bottled (Packaged) Drinking Waters (Other
 than Natural Mineral Water) at Step 7.
4. Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice  CX/FH 98/5
 for Milk and Milk Products.
    --Government Comments at Step 3........  CX/FH 98/5-Add. 1
5. Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice  CX/FH 98/6
 for the Transport of Foodstuffs in Bulk
 and Semi-Packed Foodstuffs.
    --Government Comments at Step 3........  CX/FH 98/6-Add. 1
6. Discussion Paper on the Proposed Draft    CX/FH 98/7
 Code of Hygienic Practice for Primary
 Production, Harvesting and Packaging of
 Fresh Product.
7. Discussion Paper on the Proposed Draft    CX/FH 98/8
 Code of Hygienic Practice for Pre-Cut
 Fruits and Vegetables.
8. Discussion Paper on Proposed Draft        CX/FH 98/9
 Guidelines for Hygienic Recycling of
 Processing Water in Food Plants.
9. Discussion Paper on Recommendations for   CX/FH 98/10
 the Management of Microbiological Hazards
 for Foods in International Trade.
10. Implications for Broader Application of  CX/FH 98/11
 the HACCP System.
11. Discussion Paper on the Development of   CX/FH 98/12
 Risk-Based Guidance for the Use of HACCP-
 like Systems in Small Businesses, with
 Special Reference to Developing Countries.
12. The Implications of Regional             CX/FH 98/13
 Differences in the Prevalence of Foodborne
 Pathogens in the Management of
 Microbiological Hazards for Foods in
 International Trade.


[[Page 54670]]

Ellen Y. Matten,
Acting U.S. Manager for Codex, FSIS.
[FR Doc. 98-27468 Filed 10-8-98; 10:47 am]
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