[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12313-12314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4782]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2012-N-0001]


Food Labeling Workshop; Public Workshop

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory 
Affairs (ORA), Dallas District Office (DALDO), in collaboration with 
Oklahoma State University (OSU), Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural 
Products Center (FAPC), is announcing a public workshop entitled ``Food 
Labeling Workshop.'' This public workshop is intended to provide 
information about FDA food labeling regulations and other related 
subjects to the regulated industry, particularly small businesses and 
startups.
    Date and Time: This public workshop will be held on April 24 and 
25, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Location: This public workshop will be held at FAPC, OSU, 148 FAPC, 
Stillwater, OK 74078-6055.
    Contact: David Arvelo, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug 
Administration, Southwest Regional Office, 4040 North Central 
Expressway, Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75204, 214-253-4952, FAX: 214-253-
4970, email: [email protected].
    For information on accommodation options, contact conference 
coordinators Karen Smith or Andrea Graves at FAPC, OSU, 148 FAPC, 
Stillwater, OK 74078-6055, 405-744-6071, FAX: 405-744-6313, or email: 
[email protected] or [email protected]. More information 
is also available online at http://www.fapc.biz/foodlabeling.html. (FDA 
has verified the Web site address, but we are not responsible for any 
subsequent changes to the Web site after this document publishes in the 
Federal Register.)
    Registration: You are encouraged to register by April 10, 2012. The 
workshop has a $400 registration fee to cover the cost of facilities, 
materials, lunch, and breaks. Seats are limited; please submit your 
registration as soon as possible. Workshop space will be filled in 
order of receipt of registration. Those accepted into the workshop will 
receive confirmation. Registration will close after the workshop 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 $400 payable to FAPC. 
There are no registration fees for FDA employees.
    If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please 
contact Karen Smith (see Contact) at least 7 days in advance.
    Registration Form Instructions: To register, please complete the 
online registration form at http://www.fapc.biz/forms/foodlabeling.htm.
    Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be 
available due to the format of this workshop. Course handouts may be 
requested after the date of the public workshop through the contact 
persons (see Contact) at cost plus shipping.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This public workshop is being held in 
response to the large volume of food labeling inquiries from small food 
manufacturers and startups originating from the area covered by the FDA 
DALDO. FDA DALDO 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 
ORA's 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

[[Page 12314]]

compliance policies. This workshop is also consistent with the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 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 comply with 
labeling requirements, especially in light of growing concerns about 
obesity and food allergens. Information presented will be based on 
Agency position as articulated through regulation, compliance policy 
guides, and information previously made available to the public. Topics 
to be discussed at the workshop include: (1) Mandatory label elements, 
(2) the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, (3) 
nutrition labeling requirements, (4) health and nutrition claims, and 
(5) special labeling issues, such as exemptions. FDA expects that 
participation in this public workshop will provide regulated industry 
with greater understanding of the Agency's regulatory and policy 
perspectives on food labeling and increase voluntary compliance with 
labeling requirements.

    Dated: February 23, 2012.
Leslie Kux,
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-4782 Filed 2-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P