[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53308-53310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25484]


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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. 190 / Friday, October 1, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 53308]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Public Meeting on U.S. Participation in the 16th Annual 
Meeting of the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FAS is informing the public of a meeting to be held Thursday, 
October 7, 1999, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 
Washington, DC. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit public 
comment on U.S. participation in the 16th annual meeting of the 
International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI), October 
25-27, 1999, in Antalya, Turkey, including the continued U.S. 
participation, future activities (Plan of Work), U.S. level of 
contributions (funding), and ICGFI's role. It is also to seek public 
input in identifying any new issues of concern that should be 
considered.
    Representatives from past delegations will also be present to 
apprise the public of the background of ICGFI, its mandate, past 
contributions and to respond to questions. ICGFI was established under 
the joint aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 
Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the 
World Health Organization (WHO).
    The functions of ICGFI are:
    1. To evaluate global developments in the field of food 
irradiation;
    2. To provide a focal point of advice on the application of food 
irradiation to Member States and the three Organizations; and
    3. To furnish information, as required, through the Organizations, 
to the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the Wholesomeness of 
Irradiated Food and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

DATES: The public meeting date is Thursday, October 7, 1999, 9 a.m. to 
11 a.m., Washington, DC in Room 5066 South Building. Written comments 
should be submitted by October 5, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Foreign Agricultural Service, International Trade Policy, Food Safety 
and Technical Services Division, Room 5545, South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-1301; or e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Topics to be Discussed at the Public Meeting Include the Following

    Should the United States continue to participate in ICGFI?
    What are the benefits to the U.S. taxpayer? Industry? Government?
    What are the drawbacks or costs we should consider?
    Should the United States continue to support ICGFI financially?
    If the answer is yes, how should ICGFI be funded?
    Should the United States Government continue to contribute to 
ICGFI?
    If yes, should we continue at the same level, increase, or decrease 
our contributions?
    Should contributions continue to come only from the Government, or 
should industry contribute as well (or in place of)?
    Should the proposed ``Programme of Work and Budget for 2000'' be 
approved?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Estimated
                     Programme of Work                          Budget
                                                                (US$)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. International Trade:
    (a) Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS)          35,000
     for Operators of Irradiation Facilities and Food
     Inspectors............................................
    (b) Seminar on Trade Opportunities for Irradiated Foods       25,000
     for Asia and the Pacific..............................
    (c) Workshop on Facilitating Trade in Irradiated Food         20,000
     with the European Union...............................
2. Legislation:
    (a) Amendments to Codex General Standard for Irradiated        5,000
     Foods (through the Codex Committee on Food Additives
     and Contaminants).....................................
    (b) Proposed Amendment to the Labeling Provisions on           3,000
     Irradiated Foods (through the Codex Committee on Food
     Labelling)............................................
    (c) Publication of revised ICGFI Codes of Good                 (\1\)
     Irradiation Practices (GIP)...........................
3. Information Transfer:
    (a) Publication of Brochure on Application of ``High-          (\1\)
     Dose Irradiation of Food''............................
    (b) Publication of Education Materials on Food                 5,000
     Irradiation...........................................
4. Database:
    (a) Revise database on list of clearance of irradiated         (\2\)
     food..................................................
    (b) Update current database: national regulations, food        (\2\)
     irradiation facilities, authorized packaging,
     materials, trainees, etc..............................
5. Administration:
    (a) One professional staff (part-time).................       45,000
    (b) One support staff..................................       60,000
    (c) Travel.............................................       10,000
    (d) Miscellaneous (telephone, shipping, etc.)..........        5,000
                                                            ------------
        Total (cash).......................................      213,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In-kind.
\2\ No-cost.


[[Page 53309]]

    Are there any other topics we think ICGFI should address?

Background Information on ICGFI

    What is ICGFI?
    An independent body composed of government-designated experts on 
food irradiation.
    How was ICGFI formed?
    In 1982, the Directors General of FAO, IAEA and WHO invited Member 
States to consider forming a consultative group to focus in 
international co-operation in food irradiation. Upon receipt of a 
favorable response from 44 Member States, those present at a meeting in 
1983 drafted a Declaration establishing the International Consultative 
Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI). ICGFI, composed of experts or other 
participants designated by each government, was established in 1984 for 
an initial period of 5 years.
    How is ICGFI organized?
    FAO, IAEA and WHO, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear 
Techniques in Food and Agriculture based at the IAEA, Vienna, serve as 
ICGFI's Secretariat.
    What are the functions of ICGFI?
    1. to evaluate global developments in the field of food 
irradiation;
    2. to provide a focal point of advice on the application of food 
irradiation to Member States and the three Organizations; and
    3. to furnish information, as required, through the Organizations, 
to the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the Wholesomeness of 
Irradiated Food and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
    Who determines the priorities?
    ICGFI funds and operates its own programs, focusing on developing 
policy guidelines related to the safety assurance of the process, 
legislation, public information, economic feasibility, food safety, and 
international trade.
    How does ICGFI acquire funding?
    Member State governments pledge, or arrange for participants to 
pledge to make voluntary contributions in cash or in kind, for carrying 
out the activities of the Consultative Group. The Consultative Group 
may accept voluntary contributions in cash or in kind from Non-Member 
State governments and from organizations whose objectives are 
consistent with those of the Consultative Group.
    What are the guidelines for donations to ICGFI?
    1. IAEA rules govern the acceptance of gifts of services, 
equipment, facilities and money.
    2. Voluntary contributions may be offered to the Agency by: United 
Nations Member State governments, intergovernmental organizations and 
non-governmental sources.
    3. Contributions may not exceed US $100,000 or its equivalent per 
year.
    How much does the United States contribute?
    Various Departments and Agencies have together contributed $30,000 
per year to ICGFI.
    How frequently does ICGFI meet?
    ICGFI convenes annual meetings to develop technical recommendations 
and to consider its program of work and budget. At the 10th Annual 
Meeting held at WHO Headquarters in Geneva from November 2-4, 1993, the 
group's experts recommended that the ICGFI mandate be extended for a 
further 5 years until May 1999.
    How much longer does ICGFI's mandate last?
    Many of the activities set out for ICGFI in the original mandate 
have been accomplished. However, a Task Force identified six areas of 
activity in which further work is needed. In October 1998 at the 15th 
Annual Meeting, the mandate of the ICGFI was extended to another 3 
years, i.e. May 1999 to May 2002. The ICGFI program will be co-
ordinated by a Management Committee and will be refocused, putting 
emphasis on international trade, information exchange, high dose 
irradiation and seminars/training.
    What kind of training is ICGFI involved with?
    An example is the FAO/IAEA/WHO International Conference on 
Irradiation to Ensure the Safety and Quality of Food, in Antalya, 
Turkey, October 19-22, 1999. This Conference will review achievements 
on food irradiation during the 20th century and examine the role of 
irradiation to ensure the safety and quality of food in trade. 
Irradiation is increasingly accepted and applied as a sanitary and 
phytosanitary treatment of food in trade. Currently, some 50 countries 
have approved one or more irradiated food items or classes of food for 
consumption and over 30 countries are actually applying the technology 
in practice. The number of irradiation facilities available for 
treating food has increased in recent years with many more under 
construction or planned. Consumers are getting accurate information and 
are beginning to appreciate the benefit of irradiated food.
    Who belongs to ICGFI?
    The group is currently composed of the following 47 Member States, 
more than half of which are developing countries:
    Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, 
Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, 
Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, 
Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Republic of 
Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, 
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Syrian Arab 
Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, 
Vietnam, and Yugoslavia.
    Do only government representatives attend ICGFI meetings?
    Meetings are attended by designated experts from ICGFI member 
governments, and representatives of other interested governments, 
international organizations and non-governmental organizations are 
invited by ICGFI to attend as observers.
    Where is the Secretariat located?
    Food & Environmental Protection Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of 
Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy 
Agency, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. Phone: 
(43-1) 2600 extension 21638 or 21639; Facsimile: (43-1) 26007; e-mail: 
Official.M[email protected]
    How does ICGFI communicate with all the countries?
    There is an ICGFI National Contact Point for each Member State.
    What are the responsibilities of ICGFI Contact Points?
    1. Distribution within the country of documents, working papers and 
other information material emanating from ICGFI or its Secretariat;
    2. Co-ordinating the preparation for transmission to the 
Secretariat of technical comments/ information requested;
    3. Taking follow-up action on particular matters, in collaboration 
with the expert(s) attending the particular ICGFI meeting;
    4. Providing information, as available, to the Secretariat on the 
status of food irradiation technology, its regulatory control and other 
related topics of interest to ICGFI; and
    5. Ensuring that information made available by the ICGFI 
Secretariat is disseminated to the interested national entities/
individuals.
    Public Meeting: The public meeting will take place at the US 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 
Room 5066 South Building. To accommodate all public forum participants, 
we request that individuals planning to attend should so inform the 
Department in advance by contacting: Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Trade Policy, Food Safety and Technical Services 
Division, Room 5545, South Building, 1400

[[Page 53310]]

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250, (202) 720-1301; or e-
mail [email protected]. Please indicate the organization represented, 
if any, including the names and titles of individuals attending.
    Written Comments: Those persons wishing to submit written comments 
should provide five (5) typed copies to Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Trade Policy, Food Safety and Technical Services 
Division, Room 5545, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC. If the submission contains business confidential 
information, five copies of a confidential version must also be 
submitted. A justification as to why the information contained in the 
submission should be treated confidentially must be included in the 
submission. In addition, any submissions containing business 
confidential information must be clearly marked ``Confidential'' at the 
top and bottom of the cover page (or letter) and of each succeeding 
page of the submission. The version that doe not contain confidential 
information should also be clearly marked, at the top and bottom of 
each page, ``public version'' or ``nonconfidential''. Written comments 
submitted in connection with this request, except for information 
deemed ``business confidential'' by FAS will be available for public 
inspection in the USDA Reading Room, Room 1141, USDA South Building, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. Normal Reading Room hours 
are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
Please call (202) 690-2817 to assure that assistance will be available 
in the Reading Room.

    Dated: September 27, 1999.
Timothy J. Galvin,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25484 Filed 9-28-99; 9:51 am]
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