[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45945-45946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18875]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Codex Office


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

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 
September 12, 2019. 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 21st Session of 
the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, October 7-
11, 2019. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Under 
Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the 
importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain 
background information on the 21st Session of the CCFFV and to address 
items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for September 12, 2019, from 
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place in Meeting Room 2-L285 of 
the Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250. 
Documents related to the 21st Session of the CCFFV will be accessible 
via the internet at the following address: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-odexalimentarius/meetings/en/.
    Mr. Dorian LaFond, U.S. Delegate to the 21st 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 21st Session of the CCFFV by conference call, please use the 
call-in-number: 888-844-9904 and participant code 5126092.
    Registration: Attendees may register to attend the public meeting 
by emailing [email protected] by September 10, 2019. 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 21st Session of the CCFFV, 
contact U.S. Delegate, Mr. Dorian LaFond, International Food Standards 
Coordinator, Fruits and Vegetables Program, Specialty Crops Division, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0247, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: +1 
(202) 690-4944, Email: [email protected].
    For Further Information about the public meeting Contact: U.S. 
Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, South Agriculture 
Building, Washington, DC 20250. Phone 202 720 7760, 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 Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits 
and Vegetables (CCFFV) are:

a. To elaborate worldwide standards and codes of practice as may be 
appropriate for fresh fruits and vegetables
b. to consult, as necessary, with other international organizations in 
the standards development to avoid duplication

    The CCFFV is hosted by Mexico. The United States attends the CCFFV 
as a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 21st Session of the CCFFV 
will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Matters arising from the Codex Alimentarius Commission and 
other committees
 Draft Standard for Kiwifruit: tolerance for decay
 Draft Standard for Garlic
 Proposed Draft Standard for Ware Potatoes
 Proposed Draft Standard for Fresh Dates
 Proposed Draft Standard for Yams
 Proposed Draft Standard for Onions and Shallots

[[Page 45946]]

 Proposed Draft Standard for Berry Fruits
 Discussion Paper on glossary terms used in the layout for 
Codex standards for fruits and vegetables
 Other business

Public Meeting

    At the September 12, 2019, 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 Mr. Dorian LaFond, 
U.S. Delegate for the 21st Session of the CCFFV (see ADDRESSES). 
Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 
21st Session of the CCFFV.

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 https://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 August 21, 2019.
Mary Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2019-18875 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]
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