[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46463-46464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19096]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


Request for Nominations for Members of Public Advisory Committee; 
Food Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting 
nominations for members to serve on the Food Advisory Committee (the 
Committee) in FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. 
Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies and vacancies that 
will or may occur on the Committee during the next 12 months.
    FDA has special interest in ensuring that women, minority groups, 
and the physically handicapped are adequately represented on advisory 
committees and, therefore, extends particular encouragement to 
nominations of appropriately qualified female, minority, or physically 
handicapped candidates. Final selection from among qualified candidates 
for each vacancy will be determined by the expertise required to meet 
specific agency needs and in a manner to ensure appropriate balance of 
membership.

DATES: August 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All nominations for membership should be sent to Catherine 
M. DeRoever (address below).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regarding all nominations for 
membership: Catherine M. DeRoever, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition (HFS-6), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW., 
Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4251, FAX 202-205-4970.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FDA is requesting nominations for members to 
serve on the advisory committee listed below. Individuals should have 
expertise in the activity of the Committee. Vacancies will occur June 
30, 2000.

Food Advisory Committee

    The Committee provides advice primarily to the Director, Center for 
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), and as needed, to the 
Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and other appropriate officials, on 
emerging food safety, food science, and nutrition, and other food-
related issues that FDA considers of primary importance for its food 
and cosmetics program. The Committee may be charged with reviewing and 
evaluating available data and making recommendations on matters such as 
those relating to: (1) Broad scientific and technical food or cosmetic 
related issues; (2) the safety of new foods and food ingredients; (3) 
labeling of foods and cosmetics; (4) nutrient needs and nutritional 
adequacy; and (5) safe exposure limits for food contaminants. The 
Committee may also be asked to provides advice and makes 
recommendations on ways of communicating to the public the potential 
risks associated with these issues and recommends on approaches to that 
might be considered in for addressing them the issues.
    The Committee has been restructured to consist of a ``parent'' 
Committee and four standing Subcommittees. The Subcommittees are as 
follows: (1) Additives and Ingredients; (2) Contaminants and Natural 
Toxicants; (3) Dietary Supplements; and (4) Food Biotechnology. The new 
Food Advisory Committee ``parent''/Subcommittees structure was adopted 
because of the breadth of scientific disciplines needed to consider 
emerging food safety and nutrition related matters. Further, the new 
structure provides an expanded knowledge base from which to draw 
essential expertise in emerging and reemerging scientific areas. While 
the former structure of a single standing Committee was considered 
responsive to the needs of CFSAN and FDA when originally chartered in 
1991, the increasing breadth of the scientific questions that must be 
addressed by CFSAN prompted the design of for the new structure.
    The purpose of the Subcommittees is to provide highly specialized 
expertise in the review and analysis of assigned topics. As was the 
case of former ad hoc Subcommittees, meetings of the Subcommittees are 
expected to shall be open to the public in accordance with

[[Page 46464]]

rules and regulations for advisory committee proceedings except as 
otherwise determined by the Commissioner or designee. Similarly, 
interactions between and among the ``parent'' Committee and the four 
Subcommittees, will be in accordance with rules and regulations for 
advisory committee proceedings established requirements. The 
Subcommittee's findings, conclusions, and recommendations will be 
reported to the ``parent'' Committee. As a general matter, included in 
this report will be a recommendation from the Subcommittee on final 
disposition of the assigned topic. Generally, matters that cut across 
the agency program areas would fall under the purview of the ``parent'' 
Committee. As a general rule, issues relating to the microbiological 
safety of food will be addressed by the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods.

Criteria for Members

    Persons nominated for membership on the Committee shall be 
knowledgeable in the fields of physical sciences, biological and life 
sciences, food science, risk assessment and other relevant scientific 
and technical disciplines. The agency is particularly interested in 
considering candidates with a comprehensive background in food 
technology, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, and a variety 
of medical specialties, as many issues brought before the Committee 
involve medical or epidemiologic impact on nutrients, additives, 
contaminants, or other constituents of the diet, such as dietary 
supplements. The term of office is up to 4 years.
    The Committee includes technically qualified members who are 
identified with consumer interests and representatives of industry 
interests.

Nomination Procedures

    Interested persons may nominate one or more qualified persons for 
membership on the Committee. Nominations shall state that the nominee 
is willing to serve as a member of the Committee and appears to have no 
conflict of interest that would preclude Committee membership. 
Additionally, the nominee's mailing address, telephone number, and 
curriculum vitae must accompany the nomination. The agency cannot 
guarantee further consideration of nominations that do not include this 
requested information. Potential candidates will be asked by FDA to 
provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial 
holdings, employment, consultancies, and research grants and/or 
contracts to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of 
interest.

Industry Representatives

    Regarding nominations for members representing industry interests, 
a letter will be sent to each person or organization that has made a 
nomination and to other organizations that have expressed an interest 
in participating in the selection process together with a complete list 
of all such organizations and the nominees. The letter will state that 
it is the responsibility of each nominator or organization that has 
expressed an interest in participating in the selection process to 
consult with the others to provide a consensus slate of possible 
members representing industry interests within 60 days. In the event 
that a slate of nominees has not been provided within 60 days, the 
agency will select an industry representative for each such vacancy 
from the entire list of industry nominees to avoid delay or disruption 
of the work of the Committee. The agency is particularly interested in 
nominees that possess the essential scientific credentials needed to 
participate fully and knowledgeably in the Committee's deliberations. 
In addition to this expertise, the agency believes that it would be an 
advantage to the Committee's work if the individual(s) had special 
insight and direct experience into specific industrywide issues, 
practices, and concerns that might not otherwise be available to others 
not similarly situated.
    This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. app. 2) and 21 CFR part 14, relating to advisory committees.

    Dated: July 21, 2000.
Linda A. Suydam,
Senior Associate Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 00-19096 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F