[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14453-14454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7230]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


Workshop on International Outreach and Training on Good 
Agricultural and Good Manufacturing Practices for Fresh Produce

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the following 
meeting: Workshop on International Outreach and Training on Good 
Agricultural and Good Manufacturing Practices for Fresh Produce. The 
topics to be discussed are developing a collaborative process for 
identifying training needs for foreign growers and producers who export 
fresh produce to the United States and identifying effective strategies 
to best meet those needs.
    Date and Time: The meeting will be held on April 26 and 27, 1999, 
from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on April 28, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. to 
12 noon.
    Location: The workshop will be held at the Inn and Conference 
Center, University of Maryland University College, University Blvd. at 
Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD, 301-985-7300.
    Contact: Camille E. Brewer, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition (HFS-32), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW., 
Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-2314, FAX 202-260-9653, e-mail 
``[email protected]''.
    Registration: The meeting is open to the public. However, space is 
limited and preregistration is required. Send preregistration 
information (including name, title, firm name, address, telephone, and 
fax number), to Wendy Buckler, JIFSAN (HFS-6), Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition, FDA, 200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-
205-4153, FAX 202-260-1654, e-mail ``[email protected]''. 
Translation into Spanish will be available. Limited space will be 
available at no cost to groups interested in exhibiting outreach, 
education, and training materials on produce safety. However, all 
exhibitors must preregister with Ms. Buckler.
    If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please 
contact Ms. Buckler at least 7 days in advance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 2, 1997, the President announced 
the ``Initiative to Ensure the Safety of Imported and Domestic Fruits 
and Vegetables'' (fresh produce safety initiative). As part of the 
fresh produce safety initiative, the President directed the Secretary 
of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Secretary 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in cooperation with the 
agricultural community, to issue within 1 year guidance on good 
agricultural practices and good manufacturing practices for fresh 
fruits and vegetables. FDA coordinated the effort for DHHS.
    FDA announced the availability of the final good agricultural 
practices and good manufacturing practices guidance on October 29, 1998 
(63 FR 58055), after receiving and considering comments on the draft 
guidance from producers, foreign governments, and trade associations 
both in writing and during two separate rounds of public meetings on 
successively more developed drafts of the guide. The final guide (the 
guide) details a broad approach on how to minimize microbial 
contamination of produce through the control of: Water, manure, worker 
health and hygiene,

[[Page 14454]]

field and facility sanitation, and transportation.
    On February 24, 1998, USDA and FDA issued a progress report to the 
President on the Initiative to Ensure the Safety of Imported and 
Domestic Fruits and Vegetables. The report summarized the progress USDA 
and FDA have made in providing good agricultural practices and good 
manufacturing practices guidance to domestic and international growers, 
harvesters, handlers, and transporters of fresh fruits and vegetables. 
The report discussed, among other things, the agencies' plans for 
assisting domestic and foreign producers to improve those practices.
    The report stated that education and outreach programs are 
essential to foster appropriate application of the guidance by the 
domestic and international fresh fruit and vegetable industry, and that 
such programs are pivotal to industry's understanding of the essential 
principles of the guidance, as well as the scientific and practical 
reasons for application of the guidance as everyday production and 
processing practice.
    The FDA workshop will begin the process for determining how to 
develop an education and outreach program for growers and producers of 
fresh fruit and vegetables imported into the United States. 
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the most effective 
approaches for education and training and to identify any science-based 
needs that will further the implementation of the guide. At the 
meeting, foreign and domestic scientific experts, extension 
professionals, and industry representatives will make presentations on 
the applications of the guide. Representatives from donor organizations 
(e.g., the InterAmerican Development Bank) will also address 
infrastructure improvements needed to enhance food safety. Although the 
meeting will not offer training, per se, participants will have the 
opportunity to share current educational information and industry 
strategies that can further enhance the microbiological safety of fresh 
fruits and vegetables and contribute to the development of an 
educational framework for users of the guide.

    Dated: March 17, 1999.
 William K. Hubbard,
 Acting Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 99-7230 Filed 3-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F