[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4830-4831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01235]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0040]


National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for 
Foods; Reestablishment

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of reestablishment of Committee.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this 
notice is announcing the reestablishment of the National Advisory 
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The Committee 
is being reestablished in cooperation with the Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS). 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, Advisory Committee 
Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS), Room 9-214D Patriots Plaza III, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. Telephone number: 
(202) 690-6620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    USDA is charged with the 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 
DHHS is charged with the administration and enforcement of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These Acts help protect consumers 
by ensuring 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 reestablished. The Committee will be charged with 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.
    Reestablishment 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 FSIS and 
DHHS in meeting their statutory responsibilities. To address the 
complexity of the issues, the Committee is expected to meet one or more 
times annually.
    Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after 
consultation with the Secretary of the DHHS. Because of the complexity 
of matters addressed by this Committee, the Secretary may consult with 
other Federal Agencies, such as the Department of Commerce's National 
Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's Defense Logistics 
Agency, and the DHHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for 
advice on membership appointments. Background materials are

[[Page 4831]]

available on the Internet at the address noted above or by contacting 
the person listed above.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
    FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update (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 also is available on the FSIS 
Web site. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription 
service that provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_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.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on 
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, 
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or 
family status.
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: January 4, 2013 .
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-01235 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P