[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62017-62018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23823]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-031N]


Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the National 
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). 
Nominations for membership are being sought from individuals with 
scientific expertise in the fields of epidemiology, food technology, 
microbiology (food, clinical, and predictive), risk assessment, 
infectious disease, biostatistics, and other related sciences. Persons 
from State and Federal governments, industry and academia are invited 
to submit nominations. Members who are not Federal government employees 
will be appointed to serve as non-compensated special government 
employees (SGEs). SGEs will be subject to appropriate conflict of 
interest statutes and standards of ethical conduct.

DATES: The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae must be received 
by November 22, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room

[[Page 62018]]

333 Aerospace Center, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee 
Specialist, at the above address or by telephone (202) 690-6620 or Fax 
(202) 690-6634.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The NACMCF was established in March 1988, in response to a 
recommendation in 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 and other information about the 
Committee are available for viewing on the NACMCF homepage at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.
    The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the 
safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. For example, the 
Committee assists in the development of criteria for microorganisms 
that indicate whether food has been processed using good manufacturing 
practices.
    Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to ensure that recommendations made by the Committee take into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department. 
Membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.
    Given the complexity of issues, the full Committee expects to meet 
at least once yearly, and the meetings will be announced in the Federal 
Register. The subcommittees will meet as deemed necessary by the 
chairperson and will be held as working group meetings in an open 
public forum. The subcommittee meetings will not be announced in the 
Federal Register. FSIS will announce the agenda and subcommittee 
working group meetings through the Constituent Update available on-line 
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. NACMCF holds subcommittee working group 
meetings in order to accomplish the work of NACMCF; all work 
accomplished by the subcommittees is reviewed and approved by the full 
Committee during a public meeting of the full Committee, as announced 
in the Federal Register. The subcommittee may invite technical experts 
to present information for consideration by the subcommittee. All data 
and records available to the full Committee are expected to be 
available to the public at the time the full Committee reviews and 
approves the work of the subcommittee.
    Appointment to the Advisory Committee is a two-year term; renewable 
for a total of three consecutive terms. Members must be prepared to 
work outside of scheduled Committee and subcommittee meetings, and may 
be required to assist in document preparation. Committee members serve 
on a voluntary basis; however, travel reimbursement and per diem are 
available.

Regarding Nominees Who Are Selected

    All nominees who are selected must submit a USDA Advisory Committee 
Membership Background Information form AD-755, available on-line at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISForms/AD-755.pdf.
    In particular to their appointment, SGEs must complete the Office 
of Government Ethics (OGE) 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure 
Report, as new entrants before rendering any advice, or prior to their 
first meeting. All members will be reviewed for conflict of interest 
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208 in relation to specific NACMCF work charges. 
Financial disclosure updates will be required of members before each 
meeting. Members must report any changes in financial holdings 
requiring additional disclosure. OGE 450 forms are available on-line at 
http://www.usoge.gov/pages/forms_pubs_otherdocs/fpo_files/forms/fr450fill_03.pdf.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the 
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it both on-
line through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov and 
the NACMCF Web page at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.
    FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, 
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and 
farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, 
scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to 
be included. The update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through 
Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a 
much broader, more diverse audience.

    Done at Washington, DC, on October 19, 2004.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-23823 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
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