[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14574-14575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7336]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-010N]


International Meat and Poultry Food Safety Conference

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service (FSIS), will hold an international food safety conference on 
March 27, 2003. The purpose of the conference is to share perspectives 
on various food safety issues, discuss strategies to improve food 
safety worldwide and serve as a forum for fostering relationships to 
promote food safety.

DATES: The conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2003, from 
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The conference will be held at the Pan American Health 
Organization, 525 23rd Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037. A tentative 
agenda will be available in the FSIS

[[Page 14575]]

Docket Room and on the FSIS Web site at . The official transcript of the meeting, when it becomes 
available, will be kept in the FSIS Docket Room, Room 102, Cotton 
Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Stuck at (202) 720-3473. Pre-
registration for this meeting is suggested but not required. To 
register for the meeting, please contact Sheila Johnson at (202) 690-
6498, fax: (202) 690-6500, or email: [email protected]. You 
may also register on-site. Persons requiring a sign language 
interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Ms. Mary 
Harris, by March 21, 2003, at (202) 690-6497.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The International Meat and Poultry Food Safety Conference will be 
an open forum to provide information on challenges faced by the 
international food safety community and varying approaches to the 
control of such challenges. Increased international trade in food 
products presents unique challenges in ensuring food safety. Meeting 
consumer expectations is a challenge facing food manufacturers and food 
regulators alike.

Public Meeting

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service will sponsor the International Meat and Poultry Food Safety 
Conference. This conference will allow experts and stakeholders to 
engage in an interactive sharing and learning experience, and to gain 
information and ideas to support the common goal of enhancing global 
food safety. The conference will be divided into three main sections: 
regional perspectives, scientific perspectives, and assistance and 
outreach. Examples of topics include a global perspective on multi-drug 
resistant pathogens, experiences with assisting small plants in meeting 
food safety requirements, and biosecurity. Speakers from various 
countries and international organizations are being invited.

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 affect 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: March 21, 2003.
William C. Smith,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-7336 Filed 3-24-03; 12:26 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P