[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23901-23902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09508]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2013-0005]


Interagency Risk Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail 
Delicatessens: Notice of a Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and 
Drug Administration/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA/
CFSAN) are holding a public meeting on May 22, 2013, to present the 
background, approach, scope, and findings of the draft ``Interagency 
Risk Assessment--L. monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens.'' The 
purpose of this draft quantitative risk assessment (QRA) is to evaluate 
the public health impact of changes in retail delicatessen (deli) 
practices and potential interventions to reduce or prevent L. 
monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are 
sliced, prepared, or packaged in retail facilities. FSIS and FDA invite 
interested individuals, organizations, and other stakeholders to 
participate in the meeting and to provide comments on the draft QRA.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on May 22, 2013 from 8:45 a.m. 
to 4:15 p.m. EDT. Submit either electronic or written comments to FSIS 
June 24, 2013.
    A copy of the agenda will be made available for viewing prior to 
the meeting on FSIS's Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2013, 
in the USDA Jefferson Auditorium (South Building), 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Attendees must provide a photo ID to 
enter the building. The Jefferson Auditorium is located between Wings 5 
and 6 in the South Building. Attendees should enter the building via 
Wing 5 or 7 on 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW. After 9:30 a.m., 
attendees should enter the building via the Wing 1 entrance.
    Registration: Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. Pre-registration 
for this meeting is encouraged. To pre-register, access the FSIS Web 
site, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
    Contact Joan Lindenberger for more information on logistics at 
(202) 720-0284. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other 
special accommodations should notify Ms. Lindenberger by May 13, 2013.
    Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots 
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2013-0005. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janell Kause, Scientific Advisor for 
Risk Assessment, Office of Public Health Science, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 355 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20024; 
Telephone: (202) 690-0286, FAX: (202) 690-6337, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    FSIS and FDA will issue a draft quantitative risk assessment (QRA), 
``Interagency Risk Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail 
Delicatessens'' for public comment prior to the public meeting. This 
draft QRA provides a scientific assessment of the risk of foodborne 
illness associated with consumption of RTE foods (i.e., deli meats, 
cheese, and deli salads) commonly prepared and sold in the deli of a 
retail food store and examines how that risk may be impacted by changes 
to common or recommended practices. FSIS and FDA have involved 
stakeholders and the public in the development of this QRA to ensure 
its utility.
    A request for comments, scientific data, and information for this 
QRA was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009 (Ref. 1). 
In addition, FSIS and FDA held a public meeting on June 23, 2009, to 
present the background, approach, scope, and data needs for this QRA 
(Ref. 2) (transcripts are available for viewing by the public in the 
FSIS docket room and on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Listeria-Transcript_062309.pdf).

II. Purpose of the Meeting and Agenda

    The purpose of the meeting on May 22, 2013, is to present the 
background, approach, and findings of the draft ``Interagency Risk 
Assessment--Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens,'' and 
gather public input.
    A copy of the agenda will be made available for viewing prior to 
the meeting on FSIS's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
    The meeting agenda will include presentations on background 
information relevant to L. monocytogenes at retail and data 
commissioned to fill specific risk assessment data needs, the overall 
risk assessment modeling approach, and findings. Time will be provided 
for questions and comments from the participants.

III. Transcripts

    Please be advised that as soon as a transcript is available, it 
will be accessible at http://www.regulations.gov. The transcript may be 
viewed at FSIS Docket Room, Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-164, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday and will also be posted on the Agency Web site (http://www.fsis.usda.gov).

IV. References

    The following references are on display in the FSIS Docket Room at 
the address above between 8:00 a.m. and

[[Page 23902]]

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (FSIS have verified the following Web 
site addresses, but FSIS is not responsible for any subsequent changes 
to the Web sites after this document publishes in the Federal 
Register.)

    1. Risk Assessment of the Public Health Impact from Foodborne 
Listeria monocytogenes in Some Ready-to-Eat Foods Sliced, Prepared, 
and/or Packaged in Retail Facilities; Request for Comments and for 
Scientific Data and Information. (74 FR 3617 (January 21, 2009)), 
Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0658, http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E9-938.pdf.
    2. Interagency Retail Listeria monocytogenes Risk Assessment: 
Notice of a Public Meeting. (74 FR 27276; June 9, 2009). Docket No. 
FSIS-2009-0012, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-06-09/html/E9-13378.htm.

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 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. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic 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_&_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. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, or 
audiotape) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 
and TTY).
    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 April 18, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-09508 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P