[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9308-9309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03592]


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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 March 
24, 2022. 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 22nd Session of the Codex 
Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission, which will convene virtually April 25-May 4, 
2022. 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 22nd Session of the CCFFV and to 
address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for March 24, 2022, from 1:00-
2:30 p.m. ET.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference 
only. Documents related to the 22nd Session of the CCFFV will be 
accessible via the internet at the following address: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/it/?meeting=CCFFV&session=22.
    Mr. Dorian Lafond, U.S. Delegate to the 22nd Session of the CCFFV, 
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 
here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItf-GrqjsvHxm0ZzGEBP4rZe8dAdqHjFE. After registering, you will receive a 
confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the 22nd 
Session of the CCFFV, contact U.S. Delegate, Mr. Dorian Lafond, 
[email protected], +1 (202) 690-4944.
    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 process 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 22nd Session of the CCFFV 
will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Adoption of the Agenda
 Matters referred to the Committee by the CAC and other Codex 
Subsidiary Bodies
 Matters arising from other international organizations on the 
standardization of fresh fruits and vegetables
 Proposed draft standard for onions and shallots
 Proposed draft standard for berry fruits
 Proposed draft standard for fresh dates
 Discussion paper on glossary of terms used in the layout for 
Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables
 Consideration of the proposals for new work (replies to 
Circular Letter 2021/79-FFV)

Public Meeting

    At the March 24, 2022, 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 22nd Session of the CCFFV (see

[[Page 9309]]

ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to 
activities of the 22nd 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: https://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.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.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, American Sign Language, 
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 
TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, on February 15, 2022.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2022-03592 Filed 2-17-22; 8:45 am]
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