[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3461-3462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1410]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 00N-0120]


Safety of Imported Foods; Public Meetings

AGENCY:  Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing two 
public meetings on the safety of imported foods. These meetings are 
intended to give an overview of, and discuss the six specific 
objectives of, the proposed plan announced by the President in his 
radio address of December 11, 1999. FDA and the U.S. Customs Service 
have developed proposed new operational procedures to accomplish these 
objectives. The public meetings also are intended to give the public an 
opportunity to comment on the proposed procedures.

DATES:  See Table 1 in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.

ADDRESSES:  See Table 1 in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this document. Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, 
Rockville, MD 20852. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, 
except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be 
identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of 
this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding this 
document: Mary J. Ayling, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
(HFS-32), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW., Rm. 3823, 
Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-5348, FAX 202-260-9653, e-mail: 
fda.gov">mayling@bangate.fda.gov. The comprehensive plan is available at http://www.foodsafety.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  On July 3, 1999, the President announced an 
initiative to ensure the safety of imported food by directing the 
Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the 
U.S. Department of Treasury to develop new operational procedures to 
protect public health. This initiative is geared to optimize the 
statutory authorities and resources available to FDA and the U.S. 
Customs Service to take whatever steps are feasible to protect 
consumers from unsafe imported foods. The President directed the 
agencies to target unscrupulous importers who violate the rules and 
work to subvert the system by moving unsafe foods into U.S. markets.
    The agenda for the public meetings will include the following six 
specific objectives emphasized in the President's directive: (1) To 
prevent distribution of imported unsafe food by means such as requiring 
food to be held until reviewed by FDA; (2) destroy imported food that 
poses a serious public health threat; (3) prohibit the reimportation of 
food that has been previously refused admission and has not been 
brought into compliance and require the marking of shipping containers 
and/or papers of imported food that is refused admission for safety 
reasons; (4) set standards for the use of private laboratories for the 
collection and analysis of samples of imported food for the purpose of 
gaining entry into the United States; (5) increase the amount of the 
bond posted for

[[Page 3462]]

imported foods when necessary to deter premature and illegal entry into 
the United States; and (6) enhance enforcement against violations of 
U.S. laws related to the importation of foods, including through the 
imposition of civil monetary penalties.
    The public meetings also will include an overview of the 
President's directive and a review of the new operational procedures 
proposed to accomplish each of the six objectives. The meetings will 
provide a forum for discussion of the proposed procedures. In addition 
to a plenary session, the meetings will provide the opportunity for 
additional discussion of the specific objectives. Three breakout 
sessions to discuss the following are planned: (A) Secured storage, 
increased bonds, enforcement activities; (B) destruction and marking of 
refused foods; and (C) standards for the use of private laboratories. 
The U.S. Customs Service will jointly present the objectives with FDA. 
Transcripts of the public meetings are not planned.
    If you would like to attend a public meeting, send registration 
information (including name, title, firm name, mailing address, 
telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and selection of breakout 
session A, B, or C) to the contact person listed for the meeting you 
wish to attend at least 7 days prior to the meeting date. Attendance 
will be limited due to seating capacity. There is no registration fee 
for this meeting.

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                        Meeting Address                                                Date and Local Time                                              FDA Contact Person
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IRVINE: Los Angeles District Office, 19900 MacArthur Blvd.,      Thursday, February 10, 2000, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.                  Irene Gomez, 222 West 6th St., suite 700, San Pedro, CA 90731,
 suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612.                                                                                                      310-831-6123, ext. 103, e-mail: fda.gov">igomez@ora.fda.gov.
WASHINGTON: Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg., 200 D St. SW., rm. 800,    Thursday, February 17, 2000, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.                  Peter A. Salsbury, Executive Operations Staff (HFS-022), 200 C
 Washington, DC 20204.                                                                                                             St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4299, e-mail:
                                                                                                                                   psalsbur@bangate. fda.gov.
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    Dated: January 12, 2000.
Margaret M. Dotzel,
Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 00-1410 Filed 1-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F