[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 61314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24751]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 189 / Monday, September 30, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 61314]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety Inspection Service

[Docket No. 02-021N]


National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for 
Foods; Renewal

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Re-chartering of Committee.

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SUMMARY: This notice is announcing the re-chartering of the National 
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The 
Committee is being renewed in cooperation with the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS). The establishment of the Committee was 
recommended by 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 is available for viewing on the 
NACMCF homepage at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/NACMCF/index.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee 
Specialist, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 333 
Aerospace Center, 1400 & Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3700. Background materials are available for inspection on the 
web at the above address or by contacting Ms. Thomas at 202-690-6620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with 
administration and the enforcement of the Federal Meat Inspection Act 
(FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg 
Products Inspection Act (EPIA). The Secretary of HHS is charged with 
the administration and enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These Acts help protect consumers by assuring 
that food products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, 
labeled and packaged.
    In order to assist the Secretaries in carrying out their 
responsibilities under the FMIA, PPIA, EPIA, and FFDCA, the NACMCF is 
being re-chartered. The Committee will be charged with advising and 
providing recommendations to the Secretaries on the development of 
microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food 
can be assessed, including criteria for microorganisms that indicate 
whether foods have been adequately and appropriately processed.
    Re-chartering of this Committee is necessary and in the public 
interest because of the need for external expert advice on the range of 
scientific and technical issues that must be addressed by the Federal 
sponsors in meeting their statutory responsibilities. The complexity of 
the issues to be addressed requires that the Committee meet at least 
twice per year.
    Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after 
consultation with the Secretary of HHS. Because of their interest in 
the matters to be addressed by this Committee, advice on membership 
appointments will be requested from the Department of Commerce's 
National Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's 
Veterinary Service Activity, and the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.

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 make copies of this Federal Register 
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS 
provides a weekly Constituent Update, which is communicated via 
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. 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 
effect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The 
constituent Listserv 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 the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
    For more information contact the Congressional and Public Affairs 
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription 
service (Listserv) go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the FSIS 
Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/update.htm. Click on the 
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out 
and submit the form.

    Done at Washington, DC on: September 25, 2002.
Elsa Murano,
Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-24751 Filed 9-27-02; 8:45 am]
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