[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]
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