[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68985-68986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28915]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 220 / Thursday, November 14, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 68985]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 02-041N]


Summit on Listeria Monocytogenes

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
that it will hold a one day summit on Listeria monocytogenes on 
November 18, 2002. The summit will provide a forum for experts from 
government, academia, industry and consumer organizations to discuss 
current government thinking and activities regarding L. monocytogenes.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 18, 2002. 
The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 550 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. A tentative agenda is available in the 
FSIS Docket Room and on the Internet at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. FSIS 
welcomes comments on the topics to be discussed at the public meeting. 
Please send an original to the FSIS Docket Room, Reference Docket 
02-041N, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-3700. All comments and the official transcript of 
the meeting, when they become available, will be kept in the FSIS 
Docket Room at the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Hulebak at (202) 720-2644. 
Registration for the meeting will be onsite. FSIS encourages attendees 
to pre-register as soon as possible by contacting Ms. Mary Harris of 
the FSIS Planning Staff at (202) 690-6497 or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. If a sign language interpreter or other 
special accommodations are necessary, contact Ms. Harris at the above 
numbers no later than November 15, 2002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 27, 2001, FSIS published a proposed rule ``Performance 
Standards for the Production of Processed Meat and Poultry Products'' 
(66 FR 12590). In that document, the Agency proposed testing 
requirements intended to reduce the incidence of Listeria monocytogenes 
in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products, as well as food safety 
performance standards applicable to all RTE and partially heat-treated 
meat and poultry products. The Agency received numerous comments on 
several aspects of the proposed rule.

Public Meeting

    The Agency is providing a forum for experts from government, 
industry, academia, and consumer organizations to discuss current 
research and information on the best methods to identify and control L. 
monocytogenes in the processing environment and reduce the incidence in 
all RTE meat and poultry products.
    The meeting will consist of sessions on Listeria risk assessment, 
risk management, and risk communication. The FSIS moderators for the 
sessions on risk assessment, management, and communication will provide 
an overview of current Agency activities. Representatives from 
industry, government, and academia will discuss various issues related 
to assessing, managing, and communicating the risks associated with 
Listeria monocytogenes. Following these three sessions, stakeholders 
from industry, consumer groups, and academia will provide their 
perspectives on the current and proposed regulatory and industry 
practices and research needs. The Agency will invite comment and 
discussion at each of the sessions.

FSIS has developed a list of questions for which it seeks input.

    Regarding risk assessment:
    [sbull] How can risk assessment be used to improve HACCP (e.g., the 
use of food safety objectives) as it relates to L. monocytogenes?
    [sbull] What approaches might be employed to collect data on the 
presence or level of L. monocytogenes on a RTE product, or on possible 
correlations between L. monocytogenes in the environment and L. 
monocytogenes in product produced in that environment. Such data are 
critical for risk assessments in order to inform decision makers and 
other stakeholders in the development of effective controls.
    [sbull] What is the nature and level of peer-review that is 
necessary to obtain a scientifically sound assessment upon which to 
base regulatory decisions? When in the process should FSIS seek such 
input?
    Regarding risk management:
    [sbull] What is the relative role of environmental and product 
testing in detecting and preventing L. monocytogenes contamination? 
What are elements of an effective testing program?
    [sbull] For processing interventions, what are the different types, 
the level of pathogen reduction achieved by each, and the interventions 
best suited for small and very small establishments?
    Regarding risk communication:
    [sbull] Through what channels and tools can FSIS most effectively 
disseminate food safety advice to those at particular risk of 
developing listeriosis? Are people listening to the messages out there 
now?
    [sbull] What role does the food industry see itself playing in 
communicating risks associated with RTE foods to the public?
    [sbull] When should FSIS issue a public health alert in an outbreak 
situation? Should it do so even if the cause of the outbreak has not 
yet been determined so that consumers--particularly those at high 
risk--can take precautions?

Additional Public Notification

    Public involvement in 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 and informed about the mechanism for providing their comments, 
FSIS will announce it and make copies of this Federal Register 
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS 
provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via 
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. In addition, the update 
is available on line through the Internet at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. 
The update is used to provide

[[Page 68986]]

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 and stakeholders. The constituent Listserv consists of 
industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied 
health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals 
who 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.htm. Click on the 
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out 
and submit the form.

    Done in Washington, DC, on November 8, 2002.
Dr. Garry L. McKee,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-28915 Filed 11-13-02; 8:45 am]
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