[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8882-8883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02703]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8882]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Codex Office


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Methods of Analysis and Sampling

AGENCY: U.S. Codex Office, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on April 
13, 2021. 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 41st Session of the Codex 
Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission in Budapest, Hungary, May 17-21, 2021. The U.S. 
Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Acting Under Secretary for Trade 
and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) recognize the importance of 
providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background 
information on the 41st Session of the CCMAS and to address items on 
the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for April 13, 2021 from 1:00 
p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference 
hosted by the U.S. Codex Office. Documents related to the 41st Session 
of the CCMAS will be accessible via the internet at the following 
address: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCMAS&session=41.
    Dr. Gregory Noonan, U.S. Delegate to the 41st Session of the CCMAS, 
invites U.S. interested parties to submit their comments electronically 
to the following email address: [email protected].
    Registration: Attendees may register to attend the virtual public 
meeting here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuCqqj4oEzgWRDWAK93lKD-mNRIX2gw or by emailing Ms. Heather Selig 
([email protected]) by April 1st, 2021.
    For Further Information about the 41st Session of the CCMAS: 
Contact the U.S. Delegate, Dr. Gregory Noonan, Director, Division of 
Bioanalytical Chemistry, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 
20740, Phone: (240) 402-2250, Fax: (301) 436-2332, 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 (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 Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Methods of 
Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) are:
    (a) To define the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis 
and Sampling;
    (b) to serve as a coordinating body for Codex with other 
international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and 
quality assurance systems for laboratories;
    (c) to specify, on the basis of final recommendations submitted to 
it by the other bodies referred to in (b) above, Reference Methods of 
Analysis and Sampling appropriate to Codex Standards which are 
generally applicable to a number of foods;
    (d) to consider, amend, if necessary, and endorse, as appropriate, 
methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity) 
Committees, except that methods of analysis and sampling for residues 
of pesticides or veterinary drugs in food, the assessment of 
microbiological quality and safety in food, and the assessment of 
specifications for food additives, do not fall within the terms of 
reference of this Committee;
    (e) to elaborate sampling plans and procedures, as may be required;
    (f) to consider specific sampling and analysis problems submitted 
to it by the Commission or any of its Committees; and
    (g) to define procedures, protocols, guidelines, or related texts 
for the assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as quality 
assurance systems for laboratories.
    The CCMAS is hosted by Hungary. The United States attends CCMAS as 
a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 41st Session of the CCMAS 
will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Matters referred to the Committee by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and Other Subsidiary Bodies
 Endorsement of Methods of Analysis Provisions and Sampling 
Plans in Codex Standards
    [cir] Review of Methods of Analysis in Dairy Workable Package
    [cir] Review of Methods of Analysis in Fats and Oils Workable 
Package
    [cir] Review of Methods of Analysis in Cereals, Pulses, and Legumes 
Workable Package
 Revision of the Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty
 Revision of the General Guidelines on Sampling
 Discussion Paper on Criteria to Select Type II Methods from 
Multiple Type III Methods
 Report of an Inter-Agency Meeting on Methods of Analysis 
Conference Room Document (CRD)
 Other Business and Future Work

Public Meeting

    At the April 13, 2021 public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the 
agenda items will be discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity 
to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered 
at the meeting or sent to Dr. Gregory Noonan, U.S. Delegate for the 
41st Session of the CCMAS (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should

[[Page 8883]]

state that they relate to the activities of the 41st Session of the 
CCMAS.

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 modify their subscriptions 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 February 3, 2021.
Mary Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2021-02703 Filed 2-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P