[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 182 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54135-54136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21829]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0019]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are 
sponsoring a public meeting on September 24, 2008. The objective of the 
public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on 
agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed 
at the 30th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for 
Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Codex), which will be held in Capetown, South Africa, on November 3-
November 7, 2008. In addition, a working group will meet on November 1, 
2008, to discuss agenda items on the Scientific Basis of Health Claims 
and Nutrient Reference Values for food labeling purposes, and any other 
matters related to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global 
Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health which are under 
consideration by the CCNFSDU. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and 
FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the 
opportunity to obtain background information on the 30th Session of 
CCNFSDU and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 
2008, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in the Auditorium (1A003), 
Food and Drug Administration, Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint 
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740. Parking is adjacent to this 
building and will be available at no charge to individuals who pre-
register by the date below (See Pre-Registration). In addition, the 
College Park metro station is across the street. Codex documents 
related to the 30th Session of the CCNFSDU will be accessible via the 
World Wide Web at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
    Pre-Registration: To gain admittance to this meeting, individuals 
must present a photo ID for identification and also are required to 
pre-register. In addition, no cameras or videotaping equipment will be 
permitted in the meeting room. To pre-register, please send the 
following information to e-mail address [email protected] by 
September 17, 2008:

--Your Name
--Organization
--Mailing Address
--Phone number
--E-mail address

For Further Information About the 30th Session of the CCNFSDU Contact: 
Nancy Crane, Assistant to the U.S. Delegate to the CCNFSDU, Office of 
Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS-830), College 
Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 436-1450, Fax: (301) 436-2636, E-mail: 
[email protected].

For Further Information About the Public Meeting Contact: Edith 
Kennard, Staff Officer, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service (FSIS), Room 4861, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 720-5261, Fax: (202) 720-3157, 
E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Codex Alimentarius (Codex) was established in 1963 by two 
United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and 
the WHO. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and 
other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their 
adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the 
health of consumers and ensure that fair practices are used in trade.
    The CCNFSDU was established to study specific nutritional problems 
assigned to it by the Commission and advise the Commission on general 
nutritional issues; to draft general provisions as appropriate 
concerning the nutritional aspects of all foods; to develop standards, 
guidelines, or related texts for foods for special dietary uses in 
cooperation with other committees when necessary; and to consider, 
amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on nutritional aspects 
proposed for inclusion in Codex standards, guidelines, and related 
texts. The Committee is hosted by the Federal Republic of Germany.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the agenda for the 30th Session of the 
CCNFSDU will be discussed during the public meeting:
     Matters Referred to the Committee from Other Codex Bodies 
(including the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health 
and Infant Formula Methods of Analysis);
     Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims: Draft Table of 
Conditions for Nutrient Contents: Part B, Containing Provisions on 
Dietary Fibre
     Draft Advisory List of Nutrient Compounds for Use in Foods 
for Special Dietary Uses for Infants and Young Children: Part D 
Advisory List of Food Additives for Special Nutrient Forms: Provisions 
on Gum Arabic;
     Draft Nutritional Risk Analysis Principles and Guidelines 
for Application to the Work of the Committee on Nutrition and Foods for 
Special Dietary Uses;
     Proposed Draft Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of 
Health Claims;
     Proposal for New Work to Amend the Codex General 
Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods;
     Proposal for New Work to Establish a Standard for 
Processed Cereal-Based

[[Page 54136]]

Foods for Underweight Infants and Young Children;
     Additional or Revised Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs).
    Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, 
or to be distributed, by the Secretariat prior to the meeting. Members 
of the public may access copies of these documents at http://www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.

Public Meeting

    At the September 24, 2008, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on 
these agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will 
have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written 
comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to the U.S. Delegate for 
the 30th Session of CCNFSDU, Dr. Barbara Schneeman, at 
[email protected]. Written comments should state that they relate to 
activities of the 30th Session of the CCNFSDU.

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 they have the option to password protect 
their accounts.

    Done at Washington, DC, on September 15, 2008.
Karen L. Hulebak,
Acting U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. E8-21829 Filed 9-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P