[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16800-16801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06615]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053]


Designation of High-Risk Foods for Tracing and for Scientific 
Data and Information; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is extending the 
comment period for the notice entitled ``Designation of High-Risk Foods 
for Tracing; Request for Comments and for Scientific Data and 
Information'' that appeared in the Federal Register of February 4, 2014 
(79 FR 6596). In the notice, FDA requested comments and scientific data 
and information that will help us to implement the section of the FDA 
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that requires us to designate 
high-risk foods. FDA is taking this action in response to requests for 
an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit 
comments.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on the notice by 
May 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and information, identified by 
Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053, by any of the following methods.

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments and information in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments and information.

Written Submissions

    Submit written submissions in the following ways:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper submissions): 
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name 
and Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053 for this notice. All comments and 
information received may be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For 
additional information on submitting comments and information, see the 
``Request for Comments'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments and information received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this 
document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the prompts and/or go to 
the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherri Dennis, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-005), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 
Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-1914.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In the Federal Register of February 4, 2014 (79 FR 6596), FDA 
published a notice with a 60-day comment period to request comments and 
scientific data and information that will help us refine our draft 
approach to identifying high-risk foods, as required by section 
204(d)(2) of FSMA (Pub. L. 111-353). The notice summarized our draft 
approach for the review and evaluation of data to designate high-risk 
foods. We invited general comments on the draft approach, along with 
requests for more specific input on alternative approaches for 
identifying high-risk foods, whether or not the criteria should be 
weighted equally, changes in the scoring system, and how foods should 
be categorized.
    FDA has received requests for extension of the comment period for 
the notice. Each request conveyed concern that the current 60-day 
comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop a meaningful 
or thoughtful response to the notice.
    FDA has considered the requests and is extending the comment period 
for all interested persons for 45 days, until May 22, 2014. FDA 
believes that a 45-day extension allows adequate time for interested 
persons to submit comments.

II. Request for Comments

    Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding 
this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the 
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to 
send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number 
found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments 
may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.


[[Page 16801]]


    Dated: March 20, 2014.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-06615 Filed 3-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P