[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77260-77261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24773]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Codex Office


Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on 
Spices and Culinary Herbs

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 
December 6, 2023. 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 7th Session of the Codex Committee on 
Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(CAC). CCSCH7 will be held in Kochi, Kerala, India, from January 29-
February 2, 2024. 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 7th Session of the CCSCH and to address 
items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for December 6, 2023, from 1:00-
2:30 p.m. EDT.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference 
only. Documents related to the 7th Session of the CCSCH will be 
accessible via the internet at the following address: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCSCH&session=7.
    Mr. Dorian LaFond, U.S. Delegate to the 7th Session of the CCSCH, 
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/vJItcuyqrDgsEpm1ar9sahLeoFTqCPXeXig. After registering, you will 
receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the 
meeting.
    For further information about the 7th Session of the CCSCH, contact 
U.S. Delegate, Mr. Dorian LaFond, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, [email protected], (202) 690-4944. For 
an additional contact regarding 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 of the Codex Committee on Spices and 
Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) are:
    (a) To elaborate worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs 
in their dried and dehydrated state in whole, ground, and cracked or 
crushed form;
    (b) To consult, as necessary, with other international 
organizations in the standards development process to avoid 
duplication.
    The CCSCH is hosted by India. The United States attends the CCSCH 
as a member country of Codex.

[[Page 77261]]

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items from the forthcoming Agenda for the 7th Session 
of the CCSCH will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Matters referred to the Committee by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and/or its subsidiary bodies
 Draft standard for small cardamom
 Draft standard for spices in the form of dried fruits and 
berries: Part A--Requirements for allspice, juniper berry, star anise
 Proposed draft standard for spices in the form of dried fruits 
and berries: Part B--Requirements for vanilla
 Proposed draft standard for turmeric
 Consideration of the proposals for new work
 Update to the template for spices and culinary herbs standards
 Date and place of the next session

Public Meeting

    At the December 6, 2023, 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 7th Session of the CCSCH, at 
[email protected]. Written comments should state that they relate 
to activities of the 7th Session of the CCSCH.

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 
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 November 3, 2023.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2023-24773 Filed 11-8-23; 8:45 am]
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