[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52124-52125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20225]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Codex Office


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses

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 October 
19, 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 42nd Session of the Codex 
Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) of 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will take place virtually 
November 19-25, 2021, with report adoption on December 1, 2021. The 
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Acting Deputy Under 
Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the 
importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain 
background information on the 42nd Session of the CCNFSDU and to 
address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2021, from 2:00-
4:00PM EDT.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference 
only. Documents related to the 42nd Session of the CCNFSDU are 
accessible via the internet at the following address: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCNFSDU&session=42. Dr. Douglas Balentine, U.S. Delegate to 
the 42nd Session of the CCNFSDU, invites U.S. interested parties to 
submit their comments electronically to the following email address: 
[email protected].
    Registration: Attendees must register to attend the public meeting 
by emailing [email protected] by October 15, 2021. Early registration is 
encouraged.
    For Further Information about the 42nd Session of the CCNFSDU, 
contact U.S. Delegate, Dr. Douglas Balentine, 
[email protected] or (240) 402-2373.
    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.

[[Page 52125]]

    The Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and 
Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) are:
    (a) To study specific nutritional problems assigned to it by the 
Commission and advise the Commission on general nutrition issues;
    (b) to draft general provisions, as appropriate, concerning the 
nutritional aspects of all foods;
    (c) to develop standards, guidelines or related texts for foods for 
special dietary uses, in cooperation with other committees where 
necessary; and,
    (d) to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on 
nutritional aspects proposed for inclusion Codex standards, guidelines 
and related texts.
    The CCNFSDU is hosted by Germany. The United States attends the 
CCNFSDU as a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 42nd Session of the 
CCNFSDU will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Adoption of the Agenda
 Matters Referred to the Committee by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and/or Other Subsidiary Bodies
 Matters of Interest Arising from FAO and WHO
 Review of the Standard for Follow-up Formula (CXS 156-1987)
 Draft Guideline for Ready-to-use Therapeutic Foods
 General Principles for the establishment of nutrient reference 
values-requirements (NRVs-R) for persons aged 6-36 months
 Other Business and Future Work
 Date and Place of the Next Session

Public Meeting

    At the October 19, 2021, 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 Dr. Douglas 
Balentine, U.S. Delegate for the 42nd Session of the CCNFSDU (see 
ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to 
activities of the 42nd Session of the CCNFSDU.

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 September 14, 2021.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2021-20225 Filed 9-17-21; 8:45 am]
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