[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 7765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2217]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Public Meeting/Opportunity for Public Comment: 
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

AGENCY: Office of Public Health and Science/Office of the Secretary/
HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services is soliciting 
comments on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a 
proposed international legal instrument intended to address the global 
problem of tobacco use. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to 
comment on the FCTC in one or both of the following ways: (1) In 
writing, by submission through the mails, or e-mail; (2) in person, at 
a public meeting that will be convened in San Francisco, CA.

DATES: Written comments may be submitted until March 15, 2001. Comments 
can be submitted by mail or electronically (electronic submissions are 
encouraged).

ADDRESSES: To submit electronic comments, send via e-mail to 
[email protected]. To submit comments by mail, send to: FCTC 
Comments (Attn: Ms. Amal Thomas), Office of International and Refugee 
Health, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-105, Rockville, MD 20857. The public 
meeting will be held on March 8, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the 
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, 4th Floor, San 
Francisco, CA 94102. Seating capacity is 100 people. Comments also will 
be accepted during the public meeting. Those who wish to attend are 
encouraged to register early with the contact person listed below. If 
you will require a sign language interpreter, or have other special 
needs, please notify the contact person by 4:30 E.S.T. on February 26, 
2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joy Epstein, Office of 
International and Refugee Health, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-105, 
Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-1774 (telephone) or 301-443-6822 
(facsimile) or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In May 1999, the World Health Assembly, the 
governing body of the World Health Organization, unanimously adopted 
resolution WHA 52.18 calling for negotiation of a Framework Convention 
on Tobacco Control support (FCTC). The United States joined other 
countries in voicing support for negotiation of the convention, which 
is intended to address the global problem of tobacco use. Following two 
meetings of an FCTC working group held in Geneva in October 1999 and 
March 2000, an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established 
to negotiate the text of the FCTC and related protocols. The first 
session of the INB was held in October 2000. A negotiating team headed 
by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Refugee Health 
(HHS) represented the United States. Other members of the negotiating 
team represented HHS, the Departments of State, Treasury, and 
Agriculture, and the U.S. Trade Representative. An interagency working 
group developed the guidance for the negotiating team.
    The second INB session is scheduled for April 30-May 5, 2001.

(Background documents on the FCTC are available on the World Health 
Organization's web site at http://tobacco.who.int/en/fctc/index.html.)

    Written Comments: In preparation for the second INB session, the 
U.S. negotiating delegation is seeking comments from the public on the 
FCTC. If the WHO publishes a draft FCTC before the date of the hearing, 
we will seek comments on the provisions of that draft. Further 
opportunity for public input is envisioned before subsequent 
negotiating sessions.
    Announcement of Meeting: The U.S. government is seeking to 
understand the perspectives of various organizations and individuals on 
the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The comment period 
and public meeting are intended to give interested persons, including 
public health and medical professionals, state and local officials, 
farmers, retailers, manufacturers and others an opportunity to comment 
on the FCTC. Panels of respondents to this notice will be formed to 
facilitate the discussion between the public and representatives of the 
government.
    Meeting Location and Registration: The public meeting will be held 
on March 8, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bill Graham Civic 
Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102.
    If you would like to attend the public meeting, you are encouraged 
to register early by providing your name, title, firm name, address, 
and telephone number to Amal Thomas (contact information above). The 
U.S. government encourages individuals to submit written comments, 
either electronically or by mail. Comments also will be accepted during 
the meeting. If you would like to speak at the meeting, please notify 
Amal Thomas (address above) when you register.
    The transcript of the public meeting and submitted comments will be 
posted on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco.

    Dated: January 19, 2001.
Thomas E. Novotny,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Refugee Health, Office 
of International and Refugee Health.
[FR Doc. 01-2217 Filed 1-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-M