[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 78390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30483]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0029]


National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for 
Foods; Renewal

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of renewal of committee.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this 
notice is announcing the renewal of the charter of the National 
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The 
Committee is being renewed 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/wps/portal/searchhelp/sitemap/!ut/p/a1/rZLLbsIwEEW_hUWWlsfNg2RJI5FC1UQU2pJskPEjNUqckFhV1a-vU4G6ohQp3oxHvj66M7q4wFtcaPqhSmpUo2k19EWwgxUEJIphmUVkDov0dZU9xjEkT3dWkA-CC2cG1_6_4QIXTJvWvONc9qpHrNFGaOOAsrXTwt5qqrQDpmkV6x3g1FCrqirBBpeIao460TadsY-asprJcx3gLS0FF70q9U_HFMd5ILlwCeeIuq5AXhgJtOcBRb4MPElCT7pwsvaH-9A7Cy5Pn9v1TH8JyTMQWMzXG5L492RmCesbTV0BBmMD_bGB05GB2e07XP4j1OpwPBYzG80hjZ8Gb8fPZlu_1OFBtg9fG1nXuzRFdB-C61flZPIN_bauiQ!!/?1dmy&current=true&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Ffsis-content%2Finternet%2Fmain%2Ftopics%2Fdata-collection-and-reports%2Fnacmcf%2Fcommittee-charter%2Fcharter.

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 renewed. The Committee will continue to 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.
    Renewal of this Committee and its charter 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 Veterinary 
Service Activity, and the DHHS' Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, for advice on membership appointments. Background materials 
are 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 athttp://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: December 23, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-30483 Filed 12-29-14; 8:45 am]
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