[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34608-34609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14841]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0013]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Spices and Culinary Herbs

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) and the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS), are holding a public meeting on August 19, 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 2nd Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and 
Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). 
The Session will be held in Goa, India, September 14-18, 2015. The 
Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of 
providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background 
information on the 2nd Session of CCSCH and to address items on the 
agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2015 
from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place at the United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 107-
A, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Documents 
related to the 2nd Session of CCSCH will be accessible via the Internet 
at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en/.
    The U.S. Delegate of the 2nd Session of the CCSCH invites U.S. 
interested parties to send their comments electronically to the 
following email address: [email protected].

Call-In Number

    If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 2nd 
Session of the CCSCH 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 17, 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 2nd Session of CCSCH Contact: 
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].
    For Further Information about the Public Meeting Contact: Kenneth 
Lowery, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 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 that fair practices are used 
in trade.
    The CCSCH is responsible for elaborating worldwide standards for 
spices and culinary herbs in their dried and dehydrated state in whole, 
ground, and cracked or crushed form. The CCSCH consults as necessary 
with other international organizations in the standards development 
process to avoid duplication.
    The CCSCH is hosted by India.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 2nd Session of CCSCH will 
be discussed during the public meeting:
     Matters Referred by the Codex and other Codex Committees 
and Task Forces.
     Activities of International Organizations relevant to the 
work of CCSCH.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Black, White, and Green 
Pepper.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Cumin.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Oregano.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Thyme.
     Discussion paper on grouping of spices and culinary herbs.
     Proposal for new work.
     Other Business and Future Work.
    Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, 
or to be distributed, by the Secretariat before the Meeting. Members of 
the public may access or request copies of these documents (see 
ADDRESSES).

Public Meeting

    At the August 19, 2015, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the 
agenda items will be described and discussed. 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. Delegates for the 2nd 
Session of CCSCH,(see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that 
they relate to activities of the 2nd Session of CCSCH.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through 
the FSIS

[[Page 34609]]

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.
    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, 2012.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2015-14841 Filed 6-16-15; 8:45 am]
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