[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22473-22475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09387]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0011]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sponsoring a public meeting on June 
17, 2015. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information 
and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States 
(U.S.) positions to be discussed at the 38th Session of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission (CAC), taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, 
July 6-11, 2015. The Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes 
the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to 
obtain background information on the 38th Session of the CAC and to 
address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2015 
from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place at The Jamie L. Whitten 
Building, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 107-A, Washington, DC 20250. Documents 
related to the 38th Session of the CAC will be accessible via the 
Internet at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en/.
    The U.S. Delegate to the 38th Session of the CAC invites U.S. 
interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the 
following email address: [email protected].

[[Page 22474]]

Call in Number

    If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 38th 
Session of the CAC by conference call, please use the call in number 
and participant code listed below:
    Call in Number: 1-888-844-9904.
    The participant code will be posted on the Web page below: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/us-codex-alimentarius/public-meetings.

Registration

    Attendees may register to attend the public meeting by emailing 
[email protected] by June 14, 2015. Early registration is 
encouraged because it will expedite entry into the building. The 
meeting will be held in a Federal building. Attendees should also bring 
photo identification and plan for adequate time to pass through 
security screening systems. Attendees who are not able to attend the 
meeting in person, but who wish to participate, may do so by phone.

For Further Information about the 38th Session of the CAC Contact: 
Barbara McNiff, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 
4861, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 690-4719 Fax: (202)720-3157, 
Email: [email protected].

For Further Information about the Public Meeting Contact: Jasmine 
Curtis, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 4865 
Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202)205-7760 Fax: (202) 720-3157, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was established in 1963 
by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Through 
adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines 
developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and 
implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of 
consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade; promotes 
coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international 
governmental and non-governmental organizations; determines priorities 
and initiates and guides the preparation of draft standards through and 
with the aid of appropriate organizations; finalizes standards 
elaborated and publishes them in a Codex Alimentarius (food code) 
either as regional or worldwide standards; and amends published 
standards, as appropriate, in the light of new developments.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 38th Session of CAC will 
be discussed during the public meeting:

 Adoption of the Agenda
 Report by the Chairperson on the 70th Session of the Executive 
Committee
 Reports of FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees
 Proposed amendments to the Procedural Manual/Comments
 Development of Codex Standards and related texts
    (a) Final adoption (at Steps 8, 5/8 and 5a)/Comments
    (b) Adoption at Step 5/Comments
    (c) Revocation
    (d) Proposals for New Work
    (e) Proposals for Discontinuation of Work
    (f) Amendments to Codex Standards and Related Texts
 Matters referred to the Commission by Codex Committees
    (a) Codex Work Management and Functioning of the Executive 
Committee
    (b) Revitalization of FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees
    (c) Other matters
 Codex Strategic plan 2014-2019: General Implementation Status
 Financial and Budgetary Matters
    (a) Codex
    (b) FAO/WHO Scientific Support to Codex
     Matter arising from FAO and WHO
    (a) Scientific Advice to Codex and Member States
    (b) Capacity Building Activities of FAO and WHO
    (d) FAO/WHO Project and Trust Fund for Enhanced Participation in 
Codex
 Relations between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other 
International Organizations
 Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons and Members 
elected on Geographical basis and appointment of the Coordinators
 Designation of Countries responsible for Appointing the 
Chairpersons of Codex Committees and Schedule of Sessions 2016-2017
 Other Business

    Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, 
or to be distributed, by the Secretariat prior to the Meeting. Members 
of the public may access or request copies of these documents (see 
ADDRESSES).

Public Meeting

    At the June 17, 2015 public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the 
agenda items will be described, discussed, and attendees will have the 
opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may 
be offered at the meeting or sent to the U.S. Delegate for the 38th 
Session of CAC (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they 
relate to activities of the 38th session of the CAC.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register .
    FSIS also will make copies of this 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 our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the 
Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email 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/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.

[[Page 22475]]

    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:

Mail

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Fax

    (202) 690-7442.

Email

    Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC on April 17, 2015.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2015-09387 Filed 4-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P