[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31177-31178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11626]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety Inspection Service

[Docket No. 02-011N]


Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting 
nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). Nominations for membership 
are being sought from individuals with scientific expertise in the 
fields of epidemiology, food technology, microbiology (food, clinical, 
and predictive), risk assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics, 
and other related sciences. Persons from State and Federal governments, 
industry, consumer groups, and academia, as well as all other 
interested persons, are invited to submit nominations.

DATES: The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae may be received 
for 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, USDA, FSIS, Room 333 Aerospace Center, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee 
Specialist, at the above address or by telephone 202-690-6620 or FAX 
202-690-6634.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The NACMCF was established in March 1988, in response to a 
recommendation in a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences 
Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria, 
``An Evaluation of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.'' 
The current Charter for the NACMCF and other information about the 
Committee are available for viewing on the NACMCF homepage at 
www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/nacmcf/.
    The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the 
safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. For example, the 
Committee assists in the development of criteria for microorganisms 
that indicate whether food has been processed under sanitary 
conditions.
    Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to ensure that recommendations made by the

[[Page 31178]]

Committee take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by 
the Department. Membership shall include, to the extent practicable, 
individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, 
and persons with disabilities. Nominees who are selected will be 
required to submit a Financial Disclosure form AD-755, available on-
line at: 
www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/nacmcf/.
    Given the complexity of issues, the full Committee expects to meet 
at least once yearly and the meetings will be announced in the Federal 
Register. The subcommittees will meet as frequently as deemed necessary 
by the chairperson and will be held as working group meetings in an 
open public forum. The subcommittee meetings will not be announced in 
the Federal Register. FSIS will announce the agenda and subcommittee 
working group meetings through the Constituent Update available on-line 
at www.fsis.usda.gov. NACMCF holds subcommittee working groups in order 
to accomplish the work of NACMCF; all work accomplished by the 
subcommittees is reviewed and approved by the full Committee during a 
Federal Register announced public meeting of the full Committee. The 
subcommittee may invite technical experts to present information for 
consideration by the subcommittee. All data and records available to 
the subcommittee are expected to be available to the public at the time 
the full Committee reviews and approves the work of the subcommittee.
    Appointment to the Advisory Committee is a two-year term; renewable 
for three consecutive terms. Members must be prepared to work outside 
of scheduled Committee and subcommittee meetings, and may require 
document preparation. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis; 
however, travel reimbursement and per diem is available.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure 
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this Federal 
Register publication both on the FSIS and NACMCF web pages and in the 
FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent 
Update, which is communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and 
individuals. In addition, the update is available on-line through the 
FSIS web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used 
to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, 
regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, 
and any other types of information that could affect or would be of 
interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The constituent fax list 
consists of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, 
allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other 
individuals that have requested to be included. Through these various 
channels, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. For more information and to be added to the 
constituent fax list, fax your request to the Congressional and Public 
Affairs Office, at (202) 720-5704.

    Done at Washington, DC on: May 6, 2002.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-11626 Filed 5-8-02; 8:45 am]
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