[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 195 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59818-59820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25726]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Public Meeting on U.S. Participation in the 17th Annual 
Meeting of the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: FAS is informing the public of a meeting to be held Friday, 
October 20, 2000, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 
Washington, DC. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit public 
comment on U.S. participation in the 17th annual meeting of the 
International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI), November 
1-3, 2000, in Geneva, Switzerland, including future activities (Plan of 
Work), U.S. level of contributions (funding), and ICGFI's role. It is 
also to seek public input in identifying any new issues of concern that 
should be considered.
    Representatives from past delegations will also be present to 
apprise the public of the background of ICGFI, its mandate, past 
contributions and to respond to questions. ICGFI was established under 
the joint aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 
Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the 
World Health Organization (WHO).
    The functions of ICGFI are:

    1. To evaluate global developments in the field of food 
irradiation;
    2. To provide a focal point of advice on the application of food 
irradiation to Member States and the three Organizations; and
    3. To furnish information, as required, through the 
Organizations, to the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the 
Wholesomeness of Irradiated Food and the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission.

DATES: The public meeting date is Friday, October 20, 2000, 9 a.m. to 
11 a.m., Washington, DC in the back of the cafeteria, South Building. 
Written comments should be submitted by October 17, 2000. All visitors 
should enter at Wing 2 on the C Street side of the South Building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Trade Policy, Food Safety and Technical Services 
Division, Room 5545, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-1301; or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Topics To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting Include the Following:

Should the United States continue to support ICGFI financially?
Should United States government funding for ICGFI continue at the same 
level, increase, or decrease?
Should contributions continue to come only from the Government, or 
should industry contribute as well (or in place of the Government)?
Should the proposed ``Programme of Work and Budget for 2001'' be 
approved?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Estimated
                      Programme of work                          budget
                                                                 (US$)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. International Trade
    (a) Food Irradiation Process Control School (FIPCOS) for      25,000
     Food Inspectors.........................................

[[Page 59819]]

 
    (b) Workshop on Food Safety/Trade in Irradiated Food With     10,000
     the SU..................................................
    (c) Workshop on Certification of Food Irradiation Process     25,000
     in Latin America........................................
    (d) Establishing an Irradiation Promotion Council E-          15,000
     Commerce to Facilitate Trade in Irradiated Food.........
2. Codification
    (a) Amendments to Codex General Standard for Irradiated        5,000
     Foods and Its Code of Practice (through the Codex
     Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants)...........
    (b) Amendment to the Labeling Provisions on Irradiated         5,000
     Foods (through the Codex Committee on Food Labelling)...
    (c) Publication of Revised Code of Good Irradiation          in-kind
     Practice................................................
3. Information Transfer
    (a) Publication of Brochure on Application of ``High-Dose    in-kind
     Irradiation of Food''...................................
    (b) ICGFI/IUFoST Symposium on Food Irradiation...........     10,000
    (c) Preparation of Education Materials on Food                 5,000
     Irradiation.............................................
    (d) Publication of Brochure on ``Irradiation Food            in-kind
     Safety''................................................
4. Database
    (a) Maintain database on list of clearance of irradiated     no-cost
     food....................................................
    (b) Update current databases: national regulations,          no-cost
     authorized food irradiation facilities, authorized
     packaging, materials, etc...............................
5. Administration
    (a) One professional staff (part-time)...................     45,000
    (b) One support staff (full time)........................     60,000
    (c) Travel...............................................     10,000
    (d) Miscellaneous (telephone, shipping, etc.)............      5,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    What is the appropriate role for industry and consumer groups?
    Should industry participate as delegates?
    Are there any other topics we think ICGFI should address?

Background Information on ICGFI

What Is ICGFI?

    An independent body composed of government-designat experts on food 
irradiation.

How Was ICGFI Formed?

    In 1982, the Directors General of FAO, IAEA and WHO invited Member 
States to consider forming a consultative group to focus in 
international co-operation in food irradiation. Upon receipt of a 
favorable response from 44 Member States, those present at a meeting in 
1983 drafted a Declaration establishing the International Consultative 
Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI). ICGFI, composed of experts or other 
participants designated by each government, was established in 1984 for 
an initial period of 5 years.

How Is ICGFI Organized?

    FAO, IAEA and WHO, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear 
Techniques in Food and Agriculture based at the IAEA, Vienna, serve as 
ICGFI's Secretariat.

What Are the Functions of ICGFI?

    1. To evaluate global developments in the field of food 
irradiation;
    2. To provide a focal point of advice on the application of food 
irradiation to Member States and the three Organizations; and
    3. To furnish information, as required, through the Organizations, 
to the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the Wholesomeness of 
Irradiated Food and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Who Determines the Priorities?

    ICGFI funds and operates its own programs, focusing on developing 
policy guidelines related to the safety assurance of the process, 
legislation, public information, economic feasibility, food safety, and 
international trade.

How Does ICGFI Acquire Funding?

    Member State governments pledge, or arrange for participants to 
pledge to make voluntary contributions in cash or in kind, for carrying 
out the activities of the Consultative Group. The Consultative Group 
may accept voluntary contributions in cash or in kind from Non-Member 
State governments and from organizations whose objectives are 
consistent with those of the Consultative Group.

What Are the Guidelines for Donations to ICGFI?

    1. IAEA rules govern the acceptance of gifts of services, 
equipment, facilities and money.
    2. Voluntary contributions may be offered to the Agency by: United 
Nations Member State governments, intergovernmental organizations and 
non-governmental sources.
    3. Contributions may not exceed US $100,000 or its equivalent per 
year.

How Much Does the United States Contribute?

    For the past 2 years, various Departments and Agencies have 
together contributed $20,000 to ICGFI each year.

How Frequently Does ICGFI Meet?

    ICGFI convenes annual meetings to develop technical recommendations 
and to consider its program of work and budget. At the 10th Annual 
Meeting held at WHO Headquarters in Geneva from November 2-4, 1993, the 
group's experts recommended that the ICGFI mandate be extended for a 
further 5 years until May 1999.

How Much Longer Does ICGFI's Mandate Last?

    Many of the activities set out for ICGFI in the original mandate 
have been accomplished. However, a Task Force identified six areas of 
activity in which further work is needed. In October 1998 at the 15th 
Annual Meeting, the mandate of the ICGFI was extended to another 3 
years, i.e., May 1999 to May 2002. The ICGFI program will be co-
ordinated by a Management Committee and will be refocused, putting 
emphasis on international trade, information exchange, high dose 
irrigation and seminars/training.

What Kind of Training is ICGF Involved With?

    One example is the FAO/IAEA/WHO International Conference on 
Irradiation to Ensure the Safety and Quality of Food, in Antalya, 
Turkey, October 19-22, 1999. This Conference reviewed achievements on 
food irradiation during the 20th century and examine the rule of 
irradiation to ensure the safety and quality of food in trade. 
Irradiation is increasingly accepted and applied as a sanitary and 
phytosanitary treatment of food in trade. Currently, some 50 countries 
have approved one or more irradiated foods items or classes of food for 
consumption and over 30 countries are actually applying the technology 
in practice. The number of irradiation facilities available for 
treating food has increased in recent years with many more under 
construction or planned. Consumers are getting accurate information and 
are beginning to appreciate the benefit of irradiated food.
    Another example is the Trade Opportunities for Irradiated Food in 
Hawaii; 22-24 May 2000 to inform representatives of the food industry 
and trade in Asia and the Pacific and the USA of the role of 
irradiation as a sanitary and phytosanitary treatment in order to 
expedite international trade in food and agricultural commodities.

Who Belongs to ICGFI?

    The group is currently composed of the following 47 Member States, 
more than half of which are developing countries: Argentina, Australia, 
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria,

[[Page 59820]]

Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, 
Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, 
Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Republic of 
Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, 
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Syrian Arab 
Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, 
Vietnam, and Yugoslavia.

Do Only Government Representatives Attend ICGFI Meetings?

    Meetings are attended by designated experts from ICGFI member 
governments, and representatives of other interested governments, 
international organizations and non-governmental organizations are 
invited by ICGFI to attend as observers.

Where Is the Secretariat Located?

    Food & Environmental Protection Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of 
Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy 
Agency, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. Phone: 
(43-1) 2600 extension 21638 or 21639; Facsimile: (43-1) 26007; e-mail: 
[email protected]

How Does ICGFI Communicate With All the Countries?

    There is an ICGFI National Contact Point for each Member State.

What Are the Responsibilities of ICGFI Contact Points?

    1. Distribution within the country of documents, working papers and 
other information material emanating from ICGFI or its Secretariat;
    2. Co-ordinating the preparation for transmission to the 
Secretariat of technical comments/information requested;
    3. Taking follow-up action on particular matters, in collaboration 
with the expert(s) attending the particular ICGFI meeting;
    4. Providing information, as available, to the Secretariat on the 
status of food irradiation technology, its regulatory control and other 
related topics of interest to ICGFI; and
    5. Ensuring that information made available by the ICGFI 
Secretariat is disseminated to the interested national entities/
individuals.

Public Meeting

    The public meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC, back of the 
cafeteria, South Building. To accommodate all public forum 
participants, we request that individuals planning to attend should so 
inform the Department in advance by contacting: Foreign Agricultural 
Service, International Trade Policy, Food Safety and Technical Services 
Division, Room 5545, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-1301; or e-mail [email protected]. 
Please indicate the organization represented, if any, including the 
names and titles of individuals attending.

Written Comments

    Those persons wishing to submit written comments should provide 
five (5) typed copies to Foreign Agricultural Service, International 
Trade Policy, Food Safety and Technical Services Division, Stop Code 
1027, Room 5545, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250.
    If the submission contains business confidential information, five 
copies of a non-confidential version must also be submitted. A 
justification as to why the information contained in the submission 
should be treated confidentially must be included in the submission. In 
addition, any submissions containing business confidential information 
must be clearly marked ``Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the 
cover page (or letter) and of each succeeding page of the submission. 
The version that does not contain confidential information should also 
be clearly marked, at the top and bottom of each page, ``public 
version'' or ``nonconfidential.''
    Written comments submitted in connection with this request, except 
for information deemed ``business confidential'' by FAS will be 
available for public inspection in the USDA Reading Room, Room 1141, 
USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. 
Normal Reading Room hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. Please call (202) 690-2817 to assure that 
assistance will be available in the Reading Room.

    Dated: October 2, 2000.
Timothy J. Galvin,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25726 Filed 10-5-00; 8:45 am]
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