[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4348-4349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00725]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2016-N-3389]


Evaluation of the Beneficial Physiological Effects of Isolated or 
Synthetic Non-Digestible Carbohydrates; Request For Scientific Data, 
Information, and Comments; Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is reopening the 
comment period for the document requesting scientific data, 
information, and comments entitled ``Evaluation of the Beneficial 
Physiological Effects of Isolated or Synthetic Non-Digestible 
Carbohydrates'' that appeared in the Federal Register of November 23, 
2016 (81 FR 84595). In the document, we requested scientific data, 
information, and comments to help us determine whether a particular 
isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrate should be added to 
our definition of ``dietary fiber'' for purposes of being declared as 
dietary fiber on a Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts label. We also 
announced in the document the availability for comment of a scientific 
literature review document that we conducted that summarizes clinical 
studies associated with 26 specific isolated or synthetic non-
digestible carbohydrates. We are taking this action in response to 
requests to allow interested persons additional time to submit 
comments.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments by February 13, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as follows:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted 
electronically, including attachments, to http://www.regulations.gov 
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be 
made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment 
does not include any confidential information that you or a third party 
may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone 
else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, 
such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your 
name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in 
the body of your comments, that information will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner 
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper 
submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
     For written/paper comments submitted to the Division of 
Dockets Management, FDA will post your comment, as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, 
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. 
FDA-2016-N-3389 for ``Evaluation of the Beneficial Physiological 
Effects of Isolated or Synthetic Non-Digestible Carbohydrates; Request 
for Scientific Data, Information, and Comments.'' Received comments 
will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as 
``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly viewable at

[[Page 4349]]

http://www.regulations.gov or at the Division of Dockets Management 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with 
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly 
available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You 
should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information 
you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states 
``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' We will review 
this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in our 
consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed 
confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for 
public viewing and posted on http://www.regulations.gov. Submit both 
copies to the Division of Dockets Management. If you do not wish your 
name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can 
provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your 
comments and you must identify this information as ``confidential.'' 
Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not be disclosed except 
in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. 
For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, 
see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: 
http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/dockets/default.htm.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in 
the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the 
prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers 
Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula R. Trumbo, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-830), Food and Drug Administration, 
5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-2579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of November 23, 2016 
(81 FR 84595), we published a document requesting scientific data, 
information, and comments that would help us evaluate the beneficial 
physiological effects to human health of isolated or synthetic non-
digestible carbohydrate that are added to food. We requested such 
scientific data, information, and comments to help us determine whether 
a particular isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrate should 
be added to our definition of ``dietary fiber'' that is found in the 
Nutrition and Supplement Facts label final rule, which appeared in the 
Federal Register of May 27, 2016 (81 FR 33741). Only those isolated or 
synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates that meet the definition can be 
declared as a dietary fiber on a Nutrition and Supplement Facts label. 
The notice also announced the availability of a document entitled 
``Science Review of Isolated and Synthetic Non-Digestible 
Carbohydrates,'' which summarizes a scientific literature review that 
we conducted of clinical studies associated with the 26 specific 
isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates. We provided a 45-
day comment period that ended on January 9, 2017.
    We have received requests to extend the period during which 
interested parties may submit scientific data, information, and 
comments regarding isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates 
generally and regarding our scientific literature review summary 
document specifically. The requests conveyed concern that the original 
45-day comment period would not allow sufficient time to develop 
meaningful or thoughtful scientific data, information, or comments.
    We have considered the requests but were unable to issue a notice 
extending the comment period before January 9, 2017. Consequently, we 
are reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days. Interested 
parties have until February 13, 2017, to submit scientific data, 
information, or comments to the docket. We believe that this action 
allows adequate time for interested persons to submit additional 
scientific data, information and comments.

    Dated: January 10, 2017.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-00725 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P