[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80112-80113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28341]


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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 
Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. EST. 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 43rd Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for 
Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, 
which will meet in Dusseldorf, Germany, from March 6-10, 2023. 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 43rd Session of the CCNFSDU and to address items on 
the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2023, from 1:00-
4:00 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via video teleconference 
only. Documents related to the 43rd Session of the CCNFSDU will be 
accessible via the internet at the following address: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCNFSDU&session=43.
    Dr. Douglas Balentine, U.S. Delegate to the 43rd Session of the 
CCNFSDU, invites interested U.S. parties to submit their comments 
electronically to the following email address: 
[email protected].
    Registration: Attendees may register to attend the public meeting 
here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItde-srD4oHLgvBHwXapaGAw8FzQxO3j8.
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
information about joining the meeting.
    For further information about the 43rd Session of the CCNFSDU, 
contact U.S. Delegate, Dr. Douglas Balentine, Senior Science Advisor, 
International Nutrition Policy, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive (HFS-
830), College Park, MD 20740; Phone: (240) 672-7292; Email: 
[email protected]. For further information about the public 
meeting, contact the U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC 20250; Phone 202-
205-7760; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission 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 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;

[[Page 80113]]

    (c) To develop standards, guidelines, or related texts for foods 
for special dietary uses, in cooperation with other committees where 
necessary;
    (d) To consider, amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on 
nutritional aspects proposed for inclusion in 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 43rd Session of the 
CCNFSDU will be discussed during the public meeting:
 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)
    [cir] Preamble and structure
 Technological justification for several food additives
 Prioritization mechanism/emerging issues or new work proposals
 Other Business and Future Work
 Methods of analysis

Public Meeting

    At the public meeting on February 8, 2023, 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 to the 43rd Session of the CCNFSDU (see 
ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to 
activities of the 43rd 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.usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, 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 December 23, 2022.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2022-28341 Filed 12-28-22; 8:45 am]
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