[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45503-45504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18629]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0023]


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Fish and Fishery Products

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), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are 
sponsoring a public meeting on September 24, 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 34th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products 
(CCFFP) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), taking place in 
[Aring]lesund, Norway from October 19-24, 2015. The Under Secretary for 
Food Safety, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), and the Food and Drug Administration recognizes the importance 
of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background 
information on the 34th Session of CCFFP and to address items on the 
agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2015, from 
1:00-4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place at the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
(CFSAN), Harvey Wiley Building, Room 1A-002, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, 
College Park, MD 20740. Documents related to the 34th Session of CCFFP 
will be accessible via the Internet at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en/.
    Dr. William Jones, U.S. Delegate to the 34th Session of CCFFP, 
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 34th Session of the CCFFP, by conference call, Please use the 
call in number listed below:
    Call in Number: 301-796-7777 or Toll Free: 855-828-1770, 
Participant Meeting ID: 17359750#, Participant Password: 4021401#
    Registration: Attendees may register to attend the public meeting 
by emailing [email protected] by September 21, 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: 
    For Further Information About the 34th Session of CCFFP Contact: 
Dr. William Jones, Director, Division of Seafood Safety, Office of Food 
Safety,(HFS-325) U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch 
Parkway, College Park, MD, 20740, Phone: (240) 402-2300, Fax: (301) 
436-2601, Email: [email protected].
    For Further Information About the Public Meeting Contact: Paulo 
Almeida, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue, Room 4861, 
Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 205-7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157, 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Codex Alimentarius (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.
    The CCFFP is responsible for elaborating worldwide standards for 
fresh, frozen (including quick frozen) or otherwise processed fish, 
crustaceans and molluscs.
    The Committee is hosted by Norway.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the agenda for the 34th Session of CCFFP 
will be discussed during the public meeting:
     Matters Referred to the Committee by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission and other Codex Committees
     Matters arising from the Work of FAO and WHO
     Draft Code of Practice for Processing of Fish Sauce
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice on the Processing of Fresh 
and Quick-Frozen Raw Scallop Products
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery 
Products (section on sturgeon caviar)
     Proposed Food Additive Provisions in Standards for Fish 
and Fishery Products
     Discussion Paper on Nitrogen Factors (amendments to 
section 7.4 of the Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks (Fish 
Fingers), Fish Portions and Fish Fillets-Breaded or in Batter (Codex 
STAN 166-1989)
     Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products (optional 
final product requirements for commodities/appendix on MAP)
     Discussion Paper on Histamine
     Other Business and Future Work
    (a) New Work Proposal on a standard for Fresh Chilled Pirarucu 
Fillet or whole Fish
    (b) Discussion Paper on the future of the Committee
    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 September 24, 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 34th Session of CCFFP, Dr. William Jones (see ADDRESSES). Written 
comments should state that they relate to activities of the 34th 
Session of CCFFP.

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

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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: [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 July 24, 2015.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2015-18629 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P