[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17657-17658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8720]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Office of the Director; Office of Dietary Supplements: Notice of 
Opportunity for Public Comment and Public Meeting

Background

    The Office Dietary Supplements (ODS) was established in the Office 
of the Director, NIH, in 1995 as a major provision of the Dietary 
Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). A key early 
activity was the

[[Page 17658]]

development of a Strategic Plan to define the mission of ODS and to set 
out goals for its programs. It was prepared with considerable input 
from NIH Institutes and Centers, other Federal agencies, consumers, and 
other interested parties.
    The Strategic Plan was intended to guide ODS activities and 
programs for 5 years and it has served this purpose. Since its 
publication in 1998, there have been increases in the ODS budget each 
year, and this meant both considerable progress and expanded programs 
beyond those contemplated in the original Plan. Therefore it is 
appropriate to re-visit the original Plan this year and to develop an 
updated ODS Strategic Plan for 2004-2009.
    The Office of Dietary Supplements is re-examining its 1998 
Strategic Plan and desires public comment on the progress of its 
programs and on future needs and opportunities for research activities. 
As a part of this effort, we are holding a meeting for interested 
parties. The major focus of the meeting is to solicit views and 
suggestions on the future directions and programs of the ODS.
    We have prepared a background paper that summarizes progress in key 
areas of ODS activity identified in the 1998 Strategic Plan and 
solicits comments and suggestions on future ODS activities. The 
background paper and related information are available on the ODS Web 
site at http://ods.od.nih.gov. In addition, the background paper is 
available from the Office of the address listed below. We are 
disseminating the background paper for comment by all interested 
parties. Comments, suggestions, and views should be forwarded to the 
address listed below or sent to <ODSplan.od.nih.gov.
    In addition, the ODS will hold an open public meeting on May 8 and 
9, 2003 at the time and address listed below to hear additional 
comments and suggestions on needs and opportunities for possible 
inclusion in the 2004-2009 ODS Strategic Plan. Information about the 
meeting, including the tentative agenda, is available on ODS Web site 
http://ods.nih.gov. There is no registration fee.
    We may use all written comments received by 5 p.m. EST, on June 27, 
2003 from this request as well as those received at the meeting in the 
preparation of a revised Strategic Plan for 2004-2009. We will complete 
the strategic planning process the end of calendar year 2003. We will 
publish and disseminate the revised ODS Strategic Plan as the 
``roadmap'' for programs of the Office of Dietary Supplements in 2004-
2009.
    The overall purpose of this strategic planning effort is to 
identify both new opportunities and emerging needs for possible 
incorporation in the programmatic efforts of the Office. To address 
this purpose, guidance is being requested from all interested parties 
on these important issues:
    [sbull] Is there a need or opportunity for additional overarching 
goals for ODS? As a corollary, are there reasons or justification for 
modifying the priorities for allocation of resources to the five 
original goals?
    [sbull] Is there a need or opportunity to re-examine the original 
33 objectives individually in order to address the following issues:
    (a) Are there objectives where current knowledge, opportunities, or 
needs that suggest expanded efforts or changes in priority for study 
are appropriate? If so, documentation and justification should be 
provided.
    (b) Are there additional aspects of specific topics that should be 
added? If so, documentation and justification should be provided.
    (c) Beyond the original 33 objectives, are there newly identified 
needs and opportunities that suggest additional objectives for 
increased emphasis in ODS programs in the future? If so, documentation 
and justification should be provided.
    [sbull] An additional purpose of this current strategic planning 
effort is to seek comments and suggestions about the various approaches 
that ODS has utilized in addressing the goals of its 1998 Strategic 
Plan?
    (a) Among the approaches used by ODS, should there be greater 
emphasis on certain ones in regard to research support, communication 
and information dissemination, database development, and training and 
career development?
    (c) Are there other methods and techniques that ODS should consider 
in implementing its goals and objectives in the future?
    Meeting Title: Office of Dietary Supplements Public Meeting.
    Date: May 8 and 9, 2003.
    Time: May 8--8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 9--8 a.m.-12 noon.
    Place: Bethesda Marriott Hotel, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 
20814.
    Contact Person: Kenneth D. Fisher, Ph.D., Office of Dietary 
Supplements, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 3B01, Bethesda, MD 20892-
7517, Phone: (301) 435-2920, Fax: (301) 480-1845, E-mail: 
[email protected].

Public Participation

    The meeting is open to the public with attendance limited by the 
availability of space on a first come, first serve basis. Members of 
the public who wish to present oral comment should indicate this when 
registering on the ODS Web site at http://ods.nih.gov no later than 
April 25, 2003.
    Oral comments will be limited to three minutes. Individuals who 
register to speak will be assigned in the order in which they 
registered. Due to time constraints, only one representative from each 
organization will be allotted time for oral presentation. We may limit 
the number of speakers and the time allotted depending on the number of 
registrants. All requests to register should include the name, address, 
telephone number, and business or professional affiliation of the 
interested party. If time permits, we will allow any person attending 
the meeting who has not registered to speak in advance of the meeting 
to make a brief oral statement during the time set aside for public 
comment, and at the chairperson's discretion.
    We encourage individuals unable to attend the meeting and all 
interested parties to send written comments to the Office of Dietary 
Supplements by mail, fax, or electronically. When mailing or faxing 
written comments provide, if possible, an electronic version on 
diskette.
    Persons needing special assistance, such as sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations at the meeting should 
indicate this when registering or contact the Office of Dietary 
Supplements at the address or telephone number listed no later than 
April 25, 2003.

    Dated: April 2, 2003.
Paul M. Coates,
Director, Office of Dietary Supplements, Office of the Director, 
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 03-8720 Filed 4-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M