[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34606-34608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14840]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0014]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

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

[[Page 34607]]


ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS), are holding a public meeting on August 6, 2015. The 
purpose of the meeting is to provide information and receive public 
comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that 
will be discussed at the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh 
Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Codex). The Session will be held in Mexico [the specific location in 
Mexico will be determined], October 5-9, 2015. The Deputy Under 
Secretary for Food Safety and the Agricultural Marketing Service 
recognize the importance of providing interested parties the 
opportunity to obtain background information on the 19th Session of 
CCFFV and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2015, from 2:00-
5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 107-A, Washington, DC 20250. Documents 
related to the 19th Session of CCFFV will be accessible via the 
Internet at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en/.
    The U.S. Delegate of the 19th Session of the CCFFV invites U.S. 
interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the 
following email address: [email protected].

Call In Number

    If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 19th 
Session of the CCFFV, 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 August 4, 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 CONTACT:
    About the 19th Session of CCFFV: Dorian LaFond, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, Fruits and Vegetables Division, Stop 0235-Room 2086, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 690-4944, Fax: (202) 720-0016, 
email: [email protected].
    About the Public Meeting: Kenneth Lowery, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 
Independence Avenue, Room 4861, Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 690-
4042, Fax: (202) 720-3157, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, 
the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health 
Organization. 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.
    The CCFFV is responsible for elaborating worldwide standards and 
codes of practice as may be appropriate for fresh fruits and vegetables 
and for consulting with other international organizations in the 
standards development process to avoid duplication.
    The Committee is hosted by Mexico.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 19th Session of CCFFV 
will be discussed during the public meeting:
 Matters referred by the Codex and other Codex Committees
 Matters referred by other international organizations on the 
standardization of fresh fruits and vegetables
 Proposed Draft Standard for Okra
 Proposed Draft Standard for Ware Potatoes
 Proposed Draft Standard for Garlic
 Proposed Draft Standard for Aubergines
 Proposed Draft Standard for Kiwifruit
 Minimum maturity requirements for table grapes
 Proposals for new work for Codex standards for fresh fruits 
and vegetables
 Proposed layout for Codex standards for fresh fruits and 
vegetables

    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 August 6, 2015, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the 
agenda items will be described and 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 19th 
Session of CCFFV, Dorian LaFond (see ADDRESSES). Written comments 
should state that they relate to activities of the 19th Session of 
CCFFV.

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.

[[Page 34608]]

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.
    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 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 June 11, 2015.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2015-14840 Filed 6-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P