[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6889-6890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2450]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


New Mexico State University/Food and Drug Administration Food 
Labeling; Public Workshop

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory 
Affairs (ORA), Southwest Regional Small Business Representative Program 
(SWR SBR), in collaboration with New Mexico State University (NMSU), 
Department of Extension Home Economics is announcing a public workshop 
entitled ``NMSU/FDA Food Labeling Workshop.'' This public workshop is 
intended to provide information about FDA food labeling regulations and 
other related subjects to the regulated industry, particularly small 
businesses and startups.
    Date and Time: The public workshop will be held on March 21, 2005, 
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on March 22, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Location: The public workshop will be held at NMSU, Las Cruces, NM 
88003, Gerald Thomas Hall, rm. 337. Directions to the facility are 
available at http://www.nmsu.edu/General/Maps/.\1\
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    \1\FDA has verified the Web site address but is not responsible 
for subsequent changes to the Web site after this document publishes 
in the Federal Register.
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    Contact: Gloria Hernandez, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 
30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003, 505-646-2198, FAX 505-646-1889, 
or e-mail: [email protected].
    Registration: Registration by March 11, 2005, is encouraged. NMSU 
has an $89 registration fee to cover the cost of facilities, materials, 
speakers, and breaks. Seats are limited to 80 people, please submit 
your registration as soon as possible. Course space will be filled in 
order of receipt of registration. Those accepted into the course will 
receive confirmation. Registration will close after the course is 
filled. Registration at the site is not guaranteed but may be possible 
on a space available basis on the day of the public workshop beginning 
at 8 a.m. The cost of registration at the site is $99 payable to New 
Mexico State University. If you need special accommodations due to a 
disability, please contact Gloria Hernandez (see Contact) at least 7 
days in advance.
    Registration Form Instructions: To register, please complete the 
form below and send along with a check or money order for $89 payable 
to the New Mexico State University. Mail to: New Mexico State 
University, P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003. After 
March 11, 2005, the registration cost is $99. Credit card payment is 
not available.
Name: ----------------------------------------
Affiliation: ----------------------------------------
Mailing address: ----------------------------------------
City: ---------------------------------------- State:-------------- Zip 
Code: ------------------------
Phone: ( ) ----------------------------------------------
Fax: ( ) ----------------------------------------------
E-mail: ( ) ----------------------------------------
Special Accommodations Required: --------------------------------------
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    Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be 
available due to the format of this workshop. Course handouts may be 
requested at cost through the Freedom of Information Office (HFI-35), 
Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 12A-16, Rockville, 
MD 20857, approximately 15 working days after the public workshop at a 
cost of 10 cents per page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FDA Southwest Regional Small Business 
Representative previously presented this workshop in Kansas City, MO on 
December 21, 2001 (66 FR 65976), and in Dallas, TX on March 29, 2002 
(67 FR 15211).
    This public workshop is being held in response to the large volume 
of food labeling inquiries from small food manufacturers and startups 
originating from the area covered by the FDA Denver District Office. 
The Southwest Regional Small Business Representative presents these 
workshops to help achieve objectives set forth in section 406 of the 
Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393), 
which include

[[Page 6890]]

working closely with stakeholders and maximizing the availability and 
clarity of information to stakeholders and the public. This is 
consistent with the purposes of the Small Business Representative 
Program, which are in part to respond to industry inquiries, develop 
educational materials, sponsor workshops and conferences to provide 
firms, particularly small businesses, with firsthand working knowledge 
of FDA's requirements and compliance policies. This workshop is also 
consistent with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), as outreach activities by Government 
agencies to small businesses.
    The goal of this public workshop is to present information that 
will enable manufacturers and regulated industry to better comply with 
labeling requirements, especially in light of growing concerns about 
obesity and food allergens. Information presented will be based on 
agency position as articulated through regulation, compliance policy 
guides, and information previously made available to the public. Topics 
to be discussed at the workshop include: (1) Mandatory label elements, 
(2) nutrition labeling requirements, (3) health and nutrition claims, 
(4) FDA's allergen declaration policy, and (5) special labeling issues 
such as exemptions. FDA expects that participation in this public 
workshop will provide regulated industry with greater understanding of 
the regulatory and policy perspectives on food labeling and increased 
voluntary compliance.

    Dated: February 2, 2005.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 05-2450 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S