[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21961-21962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07688]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 12, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 21961]]



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.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on May 
16, 2023 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT. The objective of the public meeting 
is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items 
and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 42nd Session of the 
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which will meet in Budapest, 
Hungary from June 6-13, 2023. 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 42nd Session of the 
CCMAS and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for May 16, 2023, from 10 a.m.-
12 p.m. EDT.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference 
only. Documents related to the 42nd Session of the CCMAS will be 
accessible via the internet at the following address: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCMAS&session=42.
    Dr. Patrick Gray, U.S. Delegate to the 42nd Session of the CCMAS, 
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 
at the following link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsceGupzgqEl-PAxtt-4y7k0SI1hwZ2rY. After registering, you will 
receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the 
meeting.
    For further information about the 42nd session of CCMAS, contact 
U.S. Delegate, Dr. Patrick Gray, Research Chemist, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Regulatory Science, U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration, (240) 402-5026, [email protected]. For 
further information about the public meeting, contact the U.S. Codex 
Office by email at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission 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 for the Codex Committee on Methods of 
Analysis and Sampling 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 the CCMAS 
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 CCMAS 
will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Matters referred by CAC and other subsidiary bodies
 Endorsement of Methods of Analysis Provisions and Sampling 
Plans in Codex Standards
 Review of methods of analysis in the Codex Standard 
Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CXS 234-1999)
 Fats and oils workable package
 Cereals, pulses and legumes workable package
 Processed fruits and vegetable workable package
 Information document: Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty 
(CXG 54-2004)
 Revision of the General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50-2004)
 Discussion paper on criteria to select Type II methods from 
multiple Type III methods
 Report of an Inter-Agency Meeting on Methods of Analysis
 Other business and future work

Public Meeting

    At the public meeting on May 16, 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. Patrick Gray, U.S. 
Delegate to the 42nd Session of the CCMAS (see ADDRESSES). Written 
comments should state that they relate to activities of the 42nd 
Session of the CCMAS.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is

[[Page 21962]]

important. Consequently, the U.S. Codex Office will announce this 
Federal Register publication on-line through the USDA Codex 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 subscriptions 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 April 7, 2023.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2023-07688 Filed 4-11-23; 8:45 am]
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