[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 123 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39415-39416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16067]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 98N-0359]


Program Priorities in the Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition; Request for Comments

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting comments 
concerning the establishment of program priorities in the Center for 
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) for fiscal year (FY) 2001. As 
part of its annual planning, budgeting, and resource allocation 
process, CFSAN is reviewing its programs to set priorities and 
establish work product expectations. This notice is being published to 
give the public an opportunity to provide input into the priority-
setting process.

DATES: Written comments by August 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments concerning this document to the 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments should be 
identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of 
this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. Carrington, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-666), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St., SW Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-5290, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On February 10, 2000, CFSAN released a document entitled ``2000 
CFSAN Program Priorities.'' The document, a copy of which is available 
on CFSAN's web page (www.cfsan.fda.gov), constitutes the Center's 
priority workplan for a 9-month period, from January 1, 2000, through 
September 30, 2000, the end of the fiscal year. Henceforth, to be 
consistent with the Federal budgetary cycle, the priority-setting 
process and development of annual workplans will be done on a fiscal 
year basis. The 2000 workplan is based on input we received from our 
stakeholders (see 64 FR 47845, September 1, 1999), as well as input 
generated internally. Throughout the priority-setting process, we 
focused on one central question: ``Where do we do the most good for 
consumers?''
    Approximately half of the 2000 workplan consists of activities 
implementing the President's Food Safety Initiative (FSI). This is 
consistent with the fact that currently, approximately half the 
Center's resources are devoted to FSI work (i.e., all activities 
related to pathogen reduction in food.) Outside of FSI, the workplan 
identifies five program areas and six cross-cutting areas that need 
emphasis. The five program areas are: (1) Premarket review of food 
ingredients; (2) nutrition, health claims, and labeling; (3) dietary 
supplements; (4) chemical and other contaminants; and (5) cosmetics.
    The six cross cutting areas are: (1) Enhancing the science base, 
(2) international activities, (3) emerging areas such as food 
biotechnology, (4) enhancing regulatory processes, (5) focused 
economic-based regulations, and (6) management initiatives.
    In keeping with last year's format, the workplan contains two lists 
of activities in most major sections of the document, i.e., the ``A'' 
list and the ``B'' list. Because we condensed this year's plan to 
three-fourths of the year (9 months), our goal will be to fully 
complete at least three-quarters of the ``A'' list activities. 
Activities on the ``B'' list are those we plan to make progress on, but 
may not complete before the end of the fiscal year. CFSAN has 
responsibility for many important ongoing activities that are not 
identified in the workplan. For example, the Center's base programs in 
data collection, research, and enforcement are important and are 
ongoing. Rather, the workplan addresses primarily those initiatives 
representing something new or different that we need to address in 
2000. In addition, the workplan does not address the myriad of 
unanticipated issues which often require a substantial investment of 
CFSAN resources (e.g., response to outbreaks of foodborne illness).

[[Page 39416]]

II. 2001 CFSAN Program Priorities

    FDA is requesting comments concerning the establishment of program 
priorities in CFSAN for FY 2001. The input will be used to develop 
CFSAN's 2001 workplan. The workplan will set forth the Center's program 
priorities for October 1, 2000, through September 30, 2001. FDA intends 
to make the 2001 workplan available in October 2000.
    The format of the 2001 workplan will be similar to the 2000 
workplan. Moreover, FDA expects there will be considerable continuity 
between the 2000 and 2001 workplans. For example, a broad program area 
targeted for enhancement in the 2000 plan is improving the safety of 
imported food; five specific activities are identified to implement the 
Imported Foods Action Plan. As the initiative to prevent importation of 
unsafe food requires a multiyear effort, ensuring the safety of 
imported food will continue to be a high priority in the 2001 workplan. 
The same is true for the Egg Safety Action Plan. FDA requests comments 
on other broad program areas that should continue to be a priority in 
FY 2001.
    In addition, because the 2000 workplan, as noted above, was a 
condensed (i.e., 9-month) plan, our goal for FY 2000 will be to fully 
complete at least three-quarters of the ``A'' list activities. FDA 
requests comments on those ``A'' list activities in the 2000 plan that, 
if not completed, should be carried over to the 2001 workplan. FDA also 
requests comments on the FY 2000 ``B'' list activities that should be 
elevated to the ``A'' list for completion in FY 2001. Finally, FDA 
requests comments on new program areas or activities that should be a 
high priority for FY 2001.
    Interested persons may submit to the Dockets Management Branch 
(address above) written comments regarding this notice by August 25, 
2000. 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. 
Received comments may be seen in the office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

    Dated: June 19, 2000.
Margaret M. Dotzel,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 00-16067 Filed 6-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F