[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 153 (Thursday, August 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 45937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18137]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 153 / Thursday, August 7, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 45937]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0023]


National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for 
Foods; Re-establishment

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of re-chartering of Committee.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this 
notice is announcing the re-chartering of the National Advisory 
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) by the 
Secretary of Agriculture on June 5, 2008. The Committee is being 
renewed in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS). The establishment of the Committee was recommended by 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 is available for viewing on the NACMCF homepage 
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory Committee 
Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS), Room 333 Aerospace Center, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. Telephone number: (202) 690-
6620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    USDA is charged with administration and the enforcement of the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act 
(PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). The Secretary of 
HHS is charged with the administration and enforcement of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These Acts help protect consumers 
by assuring that food products are wholesome, not adulterated, and 
properly marked, labeled and packaged.
    In order to assist the Secretaries in carrying out their 
responsibilities under the FMIA, PPIA, EPIA, and FFDCA, the NACMCF is 
being re-chartered. The Committee will be charged with advising and 
providing recommendations to the Secretaries on the development of 
microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food 
can be assessed, including criteria for microorganisms that indicate 
whether foods have been adequately and appropriately processed.
    Re-chartering of this Committee is necessary and in the public 
interest because of the need for external expert advice on the range of 
scientific and technical issues that must be addressed by the Federal 
sponsors in meeting their statutory responsibilities. The complexity of 
the issues to be addressed requires that the Committee meet at least 
twice per year.
    Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after 
consultation with the Secretary of HHS. Because of their interest in 
the matters to be addressed by this Committee, advice on membership 
appointments will be requested from the Department of Commerce's 
National Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's 
Veterinary Service Activity, and the Department of Health and Human 
Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Background 
materials are available on the Web at the NACMCF home page noted above 
or by contacting Karen Thomas-Sharp at the information listed above.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located 
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2008_Notices_Index/. FSIS 
will also 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, and other types of information 
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free 
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, 
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals 
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS 
Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition, 
FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides automatic and 
customized access to selected food safety news and information. This 
service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to export information 
to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete 
subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their 
accounts.

    Done at Washington, DC, on August 1, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-18137 Filed 8-6-08; 8:45 am]
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