[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5442-5443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1865]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


Food 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 Office (SWRO), in co-sponsorship with 
the University of Arkansas (UA) Institute of Food Science and 
Engineering (IFSE), is announcing a public workshop entitled ``Food 
Defense Workshop.'' This public workshop is intended to provide 
information about food defense, the regulations authorized by the 
Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act 
of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act), and other related subjects to FDA-
regulated food facilities (farms, manufacturers, processors, 
distributors, retailers, and restaurants).
    Date and Time: This public workshop will be held on May 23 through 
24, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Location: The public workshop will be held at the Continuing 
Education Center, 2 East Center St., Fayetteville, AR (located 
downtown).
    Contact: David Arvelo, Food and Drug Administration, Southwest 
Regional Office, 4040 North Central Expressway, suite 900, Dallas, TX 
75204, 214-253-4952, FAX: 214-253-4970, or e-mail: 
[email protected].
    For information on accommodation options, contact Steven C. 
Seideman, 2650 North Young Ave., Institute of Food Science and 
Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, 479-575-
4221, FAX: 479-575-2165, or email: [email protected].
    Registration: You are encouraged to register by May 9, 2007. The 
University of Arkansas has a $150 registration fee to cover the cost of 
facilities, materials, speakers, and breaks. Seats are limited; 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 $200 
payable to: ``The University of Arkansas.'' If you need special 
accommodations due to a disability, please contact Steven C. Seideman 
(see Contact section of this document) at least 7 days in advance.
    Registration Form Instructions: To register, please complete the 
following form and submit along with a check or money order for $150 
payable to the ``The University of Arkansas.'' Mail to: Institute of 
Food Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2650 North Young 
Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704.

                 Food Defense Workshop Registration Form
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Special Accommodations Required:               .........................
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    Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be 
available due to the format of this workshop. Workshop 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 defense concerns from FDA-
regulated food facilities (farms, manufacturers, processors, 
distributors, retailers, and restaurants) originating from the area 
covered by the FDA Dallas District Office. The Southwest Regional 
Office presents this workshop 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, sponsor workshops 
and conferences to provide firms, particularly small businesses, with 
firsthand working knowledge of FDA's guidance, 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

[[Page 5443]]

activities by Government agencies to small businesses.
    The goal of this public workshop is to present information that 
will enable FDA-regulated food facilities (farms, manufacturers, 
processors, distributors, retailers, and restaurants) to better comply 
with the regulations authorized by the Public Health Security and 
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism 
Act), and with food defense guidance, especially in light of growing 
concerns about food defense. Information presented will be based on 
agency position as articulated through regulation, guidance, and 
information previously made available to the public. Topics to be 
discussed at the workshop include: (1) Food defense awareness, (2) 
ALERT: The basics, (3) FDA actions on bioterrorism legislation (food 
supply), (4) food recalls, (5) crisis management, (6) food defense 
technologies and methodologies, and 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 defense and increase voluntary compliance and food 
defense awareness.

    Dated: January 31, 2007.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E7-1865 Filed 2-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S