[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53206-53207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22873]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Codex Office


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

AGENCY: U.S. Codex Office, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on 
December 5, 2018. 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 4th Session of 
the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission, in Thiruvananthapuram, India, January 21-25, 
2019. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Under Secretary, 
Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, recognize the 
importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain 
background information on the 4th Session of the CCSCH and to address 
items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5, 2018 
from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place 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 4th Session of the CCSCH will be accessible via the 
internet at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en.
    Dorian LaFond, U.S. Delegate to the 4th Session of the CCSCH 
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 4th Session of the CCSCH by conference call, please use the 
call-in-number: 1-888-844-9904.
    The participant code will be posted on the following web page: 
http://www.usda.gov/codex.
    Registration: Attendees may register to attend the public meeting 
by emailing [email protected] by

[[Page 53207]]

November 20th, 2018. Early registration is encouraged because it will 
expedite entry into the building. The meeting will take place in a 
Federal building. Attendees should bring photo identification and plan 
for adequate time to pass through the security screening systems. 
Attendees who are not able to attend the meeting in person, but who 
wish to participate, may do so by phone, as discussed above.
    For Further Information about the 4th Session of the CCSCH Contact: 
Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit and 
Vegetables Program, Specialty Crop Inspection Division, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0247, 
Washington DC 20250-0247. Phone: +1 (202) 690-4944. Email: 
[email protected].
    For Further Information about the Public Meeting Contact: Marie 
Maratos, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, 
South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 690-
4795, 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 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 and consulting, as necessary, with 
other international organizations in the standards development process 
to avoid duplication.
    The CCSCH is hosted by India. The U.S. attends CCSCH as a member 
country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 4th Session of the CCSCH 
will be discussed during the public meeting:
 Matters referred by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its 
subsidiary bodies
 Oregano--Proposed Draft Standard for Dried Oregano
 Dried Roots, Rhizomes and Bulbs--Proposed draft Standard for 
Dried Dehydrated Ginger
 Proposed Draft Standard for Dried Garlic
 Dried Fruits and Berries--Proposed Draft Standard for Dried 
Chilli Peppers and Paprika
 Dried Herbs--Proposed Draft Standard for Dried Basil
 Dried Seeds--Proposed Draft Standard for Dried Nutmeg
 Dried Floral Parts--Proposed Draft Standard for Dried Cloves
 Proposed Draft Standard for Dried Saffron
 Proposals for new work
 Other business
 Date and place of the next session

Public Meeting

    At the December 6, 2018, 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 Dorian LaFond, U.S. 
Delegate for the 4th Session of the CCSCH (see ADDRESSES). Written 
comments should state that they relate to activities of the 4th Session 
of the CCSCH.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, the U.S. Codex Office will 
announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the USDA web 
page located at: http://www.usda.gov/codex/, a link that also offers an 
email subscription service providing access to information related to 
Codex. Customers can add or delete their subscription 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 October 16, 2018.
Mary Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2018-22873 Filed 10-19-18; 8:45 am]
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