[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15211-15212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7583]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


FDA Food Labeling and Allergen Declaration; Public Workshop

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory 
Affairs Southwest Regional Small Business Program (Small Business 
Program), in collaboration with FDA's Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition and the Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug 
Officials is announcing a public workshop entitled ``FDA Food Labeling 
and Allergen Declaration.'' This public workshop is intended to provide 
information about FDA food labeling regulations, allergen declaration 
and other related matters to the regulated industry, particularly small 
businesses and startups.
    Date and Time: The public workshop will be held on August 14 and 
15, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Location: The public workshop will be held at the Center for 
Community Cooperation, Oak Corner Room, 2900 Live Oak St., Dallas, TX 
75204.
    Contact: David Arvelo or Sue Thomason, Southwest Regional Office 
(HFR-SW16), Food and Drug Administration, 7920 Elmbrook Dr., suite 102, 
Dallas, TX 75247, 214-655-8100, ext. 130 or 128, FAX 214-655-8114, or 
e-mail: [email protected].
    Registration: Pre-registration by July 31, 2002, is encouraged. The 
Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials has a $25 pre-
registration fee to cover the cost of breaks. To pre-register, please 
complete the form below and send along with a check or money order for 
$25 payable to the Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug 
Officials, 7920 Elmbrook Dr., suite 102, Dallas, TX 75247. As an 
alternative, the registration form can also be obtained on the Internet 
at http://www.fda.gov/ora/indust_assit/Default.htm. Directions to the 
facility are available at the Center for Community Cooperation Web site 
at http://www.cccdfw.org/pages/location.html. Seats are limited, please 
submit the registration form as soon as possible. Space will be filled 
in order of receipt of registration. Those accepted into the public 
workshop will receive written confirmation. Registration will close 
after the workshop is filled. Onsite registration will be done on a 
space-available basis on the day of the public workshop beginning at 8 
a.m. The cost of onsite registration is $35 payable to the Mid-
Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials. If you need special 
accommodations due to a disability, please contact David Arvelo or Sue 
Thomason at least 7 days in advance.
    The following information is requested for registration:
Name: ________________________
Agency:  ______________________
Mailing address: ________________
______________________________
City: ____________ State:________
Zip code: ____________
Phone: (    ) ______________
FAX: (    ) ______________
E-mail: ________________

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The workshop is being held in response to 
the large volume of food labeling inquiries from small food 
manufacturers

[[Page 15212]]

and startups originating from the Dallas District area. The Small 
Business Program presents this workshop to help achieve objectives set 
forth in section 406 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization 
Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393), which include working closely with 
stakeholders and maximizing the availability and clarity of information 
to stakeholders and the public. This is consistent with the purposes of 
the Small Business Program, which are in part to respond to industry 
inquiries, develop educational materials, sponsor workshops and 
conferences to provide firms, particularly small businesses, with 
firsthand working knowledge of FDA's requirements and compliance 
policies. This workshop is also consistent with the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), as 
outreach activities by government agencies to small businesses.
    The goal of the workshop is to present information that will enable 
manufacturers and regulated industry to better comply with labeling 
requirements, especially in light of growing concerns about food 
allergens. Information presented will be based on agency position as 
articulated through regulation, compliance policy guides, and 
information previously made available to the public. Topics to be 
discussed at the workshop include: (1) Mandatory label elements, (2) 
nutrition labeling, (3) claims, (4) allergen policy, and (5) labeling 
of special cases. FDA expects that participation in this workshop will 
provide regulated industry with greater understanding of the regulatory 
and policy perspectives on food labeling and allergen declaration.
    Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be 
available due to the format of this workshop. Workshop handouts may be 
requested in writing from the Freedom of Information Office (HFI-35), 
Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 12A-16, Rockville, 
MD 20857, approximately 15 working days after the public workshop at a 
cost of 10 cents per page.

    Dated: March 25, 2002.
Margaret M. Dotzel,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 02-7583 Filed 3-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S