[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4046-4047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1162]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


ODS Analytical Methods and Reference Materials Program--Dietary 
Supplement Element Methodology Workshop; Notice

    Notice is hereby given of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) Analytical Methods and Reference 
Materials Program, Dietary Supplement Element Methodology Workshop to 
be held Monday, March 23rd and Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at the 
Marriott Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center Hotel in Gaithersburg, 
Maryland, 20878.
    Summary: Late in 2001, the U.S. Congress addressed the need for 
support of analytical methods and reference materials development 
related to dietary supplements. The Congressional appropriation 
language supported an increased ODS budget for several topics, 
including analytical methods and reference materials. The Senate 
language called for: ``ODS to allocate sufficient funds to speed up an 
ongoing collaborative effort to develop and disseminate validated 
analytical methods and reference materials for the most commonly used 
botanicals and other dietary supplements.''
    On February 8, 2002, ODS held a public meeting to solicit comments 
to assist ODS in designing an overall strategy for implementing the 
Congressional mandate to foster development and validation of 
analytical methods and reference materials for dietary supplements.
    In Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005, Congress again used similar language 
supporting the Analytical Methods and Reference Materials Program in 
the ODS appropriations.
    On September 10, 2007, ODS held a Stakeholders' Meeting to review 
the progress that had been made by the Analytical Methods and Reference 
Materials Program since its inception in 2002 and to receive comments 
on future programmatic directions.
    As a follow-up to the recommendations from the Stakeholders' 
Meeting, a Vitamin Methodology Workshop was held in July 2008. This 
workshop sought to evaluate the state of analytical methodology on 
vitamins suitable for dietary supplements and to identify gaps in the 
analytical science for the purpose of meeting future methods needs of 
stakeholders. Results of the Vitamin Methodology Workshop include an 
executive summary of the

[[Page 4047]]

outcome of the workshop (in preparation) as well as recognition of a 
need for a Dietary Supplement Element Methodology Workshop.
    The purpose of this upcoming workshop is to evaluate the state of 
analytical methods for nutrient and non-nutrient minerals (including 
toxic elements) in dietary supplement products and to identify gaps in 
methodology, with a view toward designing a research program to fill 
the unmet methods needs of stakeholders. The desired outcomes of this 
meeting are to provide an overview of the status of analytical 
methodology for elements, to discuss analytical method purpose 
statements, to discuss the definition and evaluation of a method's 
purpose, as well as its fitness for purpose.
    The sponsor of this meeting is the NIH Office of Dietary 
Supplements.

Registration

    Seating at this workshop is very limited. To register please 
forward your name and complete mailing addresses including phone number 
via e-mail to Mr. Mike Schultz at [email protected]. Mr. Schultz 
will be coordinating the registration for this meeting. If you wish to 
make an oral presentation during the meeting, you must indicate this 
when you register and submit the following information: (1) A brief 
written statement of the general nature of the comments that you wish 
to present, (2) the names and addresses of the person(s) who will give 
the presentation, and (3) the approximate length of time that you are 
requesting for your presentation. Depending on the number of people who 
register to make presentations, we may have to limit the time allotted 
for each presentation. If you don't have access to e-mail please call 
Mr. Schultz at 301-670-0270.

    Dated: January 13, 2009.
Paul M. Coates,
Director, Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E9-1162 Filed 1-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P