[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27263-27264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4366]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


Food Safety and Defense Workshop; 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 (SWR 
SBR) Program, in collaboration with The University of Arkansas and the 
Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials, is announcing a 
public workshop entitled ``Food Safety and Defense Workshop.'' This 
public workshop is intended to provide information about current Good 
Manufacturing Practice regulations for foods, Hazard Analysis Critical 
Control Point (HACCP), food defense awareness, and other related 
subjects to the regulated industry, particularly small businesses and 
startups.
    Date and Time: This public workshop will be held on June 6 and 7, 
2006, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Location: The public workshop will be held at the Continuing 
Education Center in Fayetteville, AR, located downtown (2 East Center 
St.).
    Accommodations: There are many lodging choices in the area, but the 
Radisson Hotel in Fayetteville (479-442-5555) is immediately adjacent 
to the Continuing Education Center.
    Contact: Steven C. Seideman, 2650 North Young Ave., Institute of 
Food Science & Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 
72704, 479-575-4221, FAX: 479-575-2165, or e-mail: [email protected].
    You may also contact David Arvelo, Food and Drug Administration, 
4040 N Central Expressway, suite 900, Dallas, TX 75204, 214-253-4952, 
FAX: 214-253-4970, or e-mail: [email protected].
    Registration: Registration by May 28, 2006, is encouraged. The 
University of Arkansas has a $150 registration fee to cover the cost of 
facilities, materials, speakers, and breaks. Please submit your 
registration as soon as possible. Those accepted into the course will 
receive confirmation. 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 
$200, payable to ``The University of Arkansas.'' If you need special 
accommodations due to a disability, please contact Steven C. Seideman 
(see Contact) at least 7 days in advance.
    Registration Form Instructions: To register, please complete the 
form available online at http://www.mcafdo.org/ or the registration 
form in this document and submit along with a check or money order for 
$150 payable to the ``The University of Arkansas.'' Mail to: Institute 
of Food Science & Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2650 North Young 
Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704.

                               Food Safety and Defense Workshop Registration Form
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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. 6-30, Rockville, 
MD 20857, approximately 15 working days after the public workshop at a 
cost of 10 cents per page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This public workshop is being held in 
response to the large volume of food safety and defense inquiries from 
small food manufacturers and startups originating from the area covered 
by the FDA Dallas District Office. The SWR SBR 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 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, and 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 understand 
food safety and defense requirements and guidance, especially in light 
of growing concerns about food safety, food allergen cross-contact, and 
food defense. Information presented will be based on agency position as 
articulated through regulation, compliance policy guides, and 
information previously made available to the public. The following 
topics will be discussed at the workshop: (1) Code of Federal 
Regulations, Title 21, Part 110, Current Good Manufacturing Practice in 
Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, (2) pathogens of public 
health concern, (3) food allergen cross-contact, (4) an overview of 
HACCP, and (5) food defense awareness; as well as other related topics. 
FDA expects that participation in this public workshop will provide 
regulated industry with greater understanding of the regulatory and 
policy perspectives on food safety and defense and will increase 
voluntary compliance.

    Dated: May 4, 2006.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 06-4366 Filed 5-5-06; 3:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S