[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 62 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16940-16941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7188]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2003N-0312]


Animal Feed Safety System: A Comprehensive Risk-Based Safety 
Program for the Manufacture and Distribution of Animal Feeds; Request 
for Comments

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, we) held a public 
meeting in Herndon, VA on September 22 and 23, 2003, to discuss the 
potential development of a comprehensive, risk-based animal feed safety 
system (AFSS). The AFSS is intended to describe how animal feeds 
(individual ingredients and mixed feeds) should be manufactured and 
distributed to minimize risks to animals consuming the feed and humans 
consuming food products from animals. During the meeting, we stated we 
would be keeping the public informed of our progress on this initiative 
and would be seeking comments and continued participation as we 
proceed.

[[Page 16941]]

    To that end, we have placed in FDA's docket for public comment 
numerous work products of the meeting, along with documents we drafted 
following the meeting to show our tentative thoughts on an AFSS.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments at any time.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments concerning this document to the 
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic 
comments to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Graber, Center for Veterinary 
Medicine (HFV-200), Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Pl., 
Rockville, MD 20855, 301-827-6651, FAX 301-594-4512, or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The public meeting held in Herndon, VA included active 
participation of people representing consumers, animal feed processors, 
animal producers and State and other Federal Government agencies. 
Following the meeting, we placed a number of documents in FDA's docket 
at http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/dockets.htm. These include 
a transcript of the meeting, summaries of break out discussion groups, 
presentations of invited speakers, and a summary of the meeting. We 
stated our view that an AFSS should be comprehensive and risk-based, 
and we have since drafted definitions for these terms and placed them 
in the docket. Likewise, we have created a listing of elements we 
currently feel would be essential to an AFSS and added them to the 
docket. As additional material is generated, it will also be posted. We 
welcome your comments on these materials. For convenience, you may 
visit FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine home page at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/index/animalfeed/animalfeed_info.htm#biotechnology, 
and click on ``FDA Animal Feed Safety System (AFSS) Public Meeting'' 
under the ``Additional Information'' section for links to documents in 
FDA's docket.

II. Comments

    Interested persons may submit comments to the Division of Dockets 
Management (see ADDRESSES) written or electronic comments regarding 
this document. Submit a single copy of electronic comments or two paper 
copies of any mailed comments, except that individuals may submit one 
copy. Comments are to be identified with the docket number found in 
brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen 
in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m.and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday. You can also view received comments on the Internet at 
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/dockets.htm.

    Dated: March 24, 2004.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 04-7188 Filed 3-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S