[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 9967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5113]


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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. 64, No. 39 / Monday, March 1, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9967]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-008N]


Beef Products Contaminated With Escherichia coli 0157:H7; Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a 
public meeting on March 8, 1999, to discuss the policies addressed in 
its January 19, 1999. Federal Register notice, Beef Products 
Contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7. The purpose of 
the meeting is to consider policy and regulatory changes to ensure that 
consumers are protected against meat products adulterated with E. coli 
0157:H7. The Agency also solicits information on non-intact beef 
products, including ground beef, injected beef, and trimmings, for use 
in the Agency's risk assessment on E. coli 0157: H7 in beef products.

DATES: The meeting will be held March 8, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m. Written comments must be received by March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hotel Washington, 515 15th 
Street, NW, Washington DC. To register for the meeting, contact Ms. 
Shiela Johnson by telephone at (202) 501-7305 or (202) 501-7138 or by 
FAX at (202) 501-7642. If a sign language interpreter or other special 
accommodation is necessary, contact Ms. Johnson at the above numbers by 
March 4, 1999. If you are planning to present an oral comment at the 
meeting, please submit one original and two copies of the prepared 
comment to the FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket No. 99-008N, Room 102 Cotton 
Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Send one 
orignial and two copies of all other comments to the Docket Clerk at 
the address listed above. All comments received in response to this 
notice will be considered part of the public record and will be 
available for viewing in the Docket Room between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m. Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Engeljohn, Ph.D. Director, 
Regulations Development and Analysis Division, Office of Policy, 
Program Development, and Evaluation, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, Room 112 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20250. Telephone number (202) 720-5627, fax number (202 690-0486.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 19, 1999, FSIS published the 
notice ``Beef Products Contaminated with Escherichia coli 0157:H7'' in 
the Federal Register (64 FR 2803). This notice contained FSIS' policy 
regarding beef products, including raw grown beef and non-intact beef 
products, contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. The notice also afforded 
the public an opportunity to submit comments and recommendations 
regarding the Agency's policy and any regulatory requirements that 
might be appropriate to prevent the distribution of beef products 
adulterated with E. coli 0157:H7.
    In addition to the opportunities for comment provided in the 
notice, FSIS has decided to hold a public meeting on March 8, 1999. The 
meeting will provide the public an opportunity to comment and discuss 
the policy announced in the January 19, 1999, notice and the public 
health risks associated with beef products contaminated with E. coli 
0157:H7. Also, participants will be able to comment on FSIS's intention 
to expand its risk assessment of E. coli 0157:H7, which was announced 
in the Federal Register on August 18, 1998, (63 FR 44232) to include 
all non-intact beef products.
    The Agency intends to make available a set of questions and answers 
that reflect its current thinking about its E. coli 0157:H7 policy. The 
Agency will announce the availability of this document in its 
Constituent Alert.

    Done at Washington, DC, on February 25, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-5113 Filed 2-25-99; 1:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-M