[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2370-2371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-930]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-062N]


Draft Report--The Future of FSIS Veterinarians: Public Health 
Professionals for the 21st Century

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 February 1, 2000, to discuss and receive comments on 
the draft report, The Future of FSIS Veterinarians: Public Health 
Professionals for the 21st Century.

DATES: The public meeting will be held February 1, 2000, from 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. Written comments must be received by February 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 
Thomas Circle, NW. (at Massachusetts Avenue and 14th Street), 
Washington, DC 20009, telephone (202) 842-1300. If a sign language 
interpreter or other special accommodation is necessary, contact Ms. 
Linda Russell, USDA/FSIS Planning Staff, Telephone (202) 501-7136. The 
draft report is available on the FSIS web page at http://
www.fsis.usda.gov. Submit one original and two copies of comments to 
the FSIS Docket Clerk,

[[Page 2371]]

Docket No. 99-062N, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700. 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: Mr. Ronald Hicks, Deputy 
Administrator, Office of Management, Food Safety and Inspection Service 
at (202) 720-4425.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In early 1999, FSIS convened a Task Force to 
develop recommendations on the roles of veterinarians carrying out the 
Agency's Programs, particularly with the implementation of Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Point systems and pathogen reduction 
requirements for meat and poultry products. Moreover, the Task Force 
was requested to look beyond current statutory and regulatory 
limitations. The Task Force included a diverse group of individuals, 
including veterinarians from inside and outside of FSIS, a variety of 
FSIS management personnel, and individuals affiliated with academia, 
non-government organizations, and foreign governments. The Task Force 
developed a draft report, The Future of FSIS Veterinarians: Public 
Health Professionals for the 21st Century. This report makes 
recommendations concerning issues such as the future roles of the FSIS 
veterinarians; training programs; animal identification; and 
international credibility.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure 
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
public meeting notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this 
Federal Register publication in the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS 
provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via 
fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. In addition, the update 
is available on line through the FSIS web page located at http://
www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide information regarding 
FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS 
public meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could 
affect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The 
constituent fax list consists of industry, trade, and farm groups, 
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be 
included. Through these various channels, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader, more diverse audience. For more 
information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your 
request to the Congressional and Public Affairs Office, at (202) 720-
5704.

    Done at Washington, DC, on January 11, 2000.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-930 Filed 1-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P