[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 843-844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-165]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-063N]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are sponsoring public 
meetings on January 13, 1999, and February 3, 1999, to provide 
information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be 
discussed at the Seventh Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import 
and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), in Melbourne, 
Australia, February 22-26, 1999. The Office of the Under Secretary and 
FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the 
opportunity to obtain background information on the Seventh Session of 
the CCFICS and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, January 13, 
1999, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Wednesday, February 3, 1999, 
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held in Room 1813, 200 C Street, 
SW, Washington, DC. Send an original and two copies of comments to: 
FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket Number 98-063N, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102, Cotton 
Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All comments 
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public 
inspection in the Docket Clerk's Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Clerkin, Associate U.S. 
Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 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

[[Page 844]]

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.
    CCFICS was established to develop principles and guidelines for 
food import and export inspection and certification systems; the 
application of measures by competent authorities of importing and 
exporting countries to provide assurance that foods comply with 
essential requirements; the utilization of quality assurance systems; 
and the format and content of official certificates.
Issues to be Discussed at the Public Meetings
    The following issues will be discussed during the public meetings:
     Draft Guidelines for the Development of Equivalence 
Agreements Regarding Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems at Step 7
     Proposed Draft Guidelines/Recommendations for Food Import 
Control Systems (New Work)
     Proposed Draft Guidelines and Criteria for Official 
Certificate Formats and Rules Relating to the Production and Issuance 
of Certificates (New Work)
     Discussion Paper on Issues Relating to the Judgement of 
Equivalence
     Discussion Paper on the Utilization and Promotion of 
Quality Assurance Systems
     Discussion Paper on Guidelines for the Establishment of a 
Database on Importing Country Legislation
    In advance of these meetings, the U.S. Delegate to CCFICS will have 
assigned the responsibility for development of U.S. positions on these 
issues to various members of the federal government. The individuals 
assigned will be named at the January 13 public meeting.
    Additionally, at the January 13 public meeting, the issues will be 
described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask 
questions and offer comments. At the February 3 public meeting, draft 
U.S. positions on the issues will be described and discussed, and 
attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer 
comments. During the public meetings, all interested parties are 
invited to provide information and comments on the above issues or any 
other issues that may be brought before CCFICS. Comments may also be 
sent to the FSIS Docket Clerk (see ADDRESSES). Please state that your 
comments relate to CCFICS activities and specify which issues your 
comments address.
F. Edward Scarbrough,
U.S. Manager for Codex.
[FR Doc. 99-165 Filed 1-5-99; 8:45 am]
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