[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 4319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01275]



[[Page 4319]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Extension of Comment Period for the Notice and Request for 
Comments on the Implications of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) 
Commitments/Regimes and Other Proposed Commitments Being Considered 
Under a WHO Convention, Agreement or Other International Instrument on 
Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response

AGENCY: Office for Global Affairs, Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for the Notice and 
Request for Comments on the Implications of Access and Benefit Sharing 
(ABS) Commitments/Regimes and Other Proposed Commitments Being 
Considered Under a WHO Convention, Agreement or Other International 
Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response that 
appeared in the December 22, 2023, issue of the Federal Register. The 
comment period for the notice, which is due to close on January 22, 
2024, is extended to January 31, 2024.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published December 22, 2023, 
at 88 FR 88637, is extended. To be assured consideration, comments must 
be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern time January 31, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be emailed to [email protected] with 
the subject line ``Written Comment Re: Implications of Access and 
Benefit Sharing (ABS) Commitments/Regimes and Other Proposed 
Commitments in the WHO Pandemic Agreement'' by January 31, 2024. 
Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Kim, Office for Global Affairs, 
Office of the Secretary, HHS, Room (639H) Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 
200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The original notice with full 
details is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/22/2023-28341/notice-and-request-for-comments-on-the-implications-of-access-and-benefit-sharing-abs.
    In December 2021, WHO's Member States decided at a Special Session 
of the World Health Assembly to establish an intergovernmental 
negotiating body (INB), representing all regions of the world, to draft 
and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement, or other international 
instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. More 
information about the INB process can be found here: https://inb.who.int/home/inb-process. The INB currently intends to submit its 
outcome to the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in May 2024.
    The United States has expressed support for the development of an 
international instrument to protect the world from pandemic health 
threats now and in the future, and in a more rapid and equitable 
manner. Full details on the negotiating text and the outcomes sought by 
the United States are available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/22/2023-28341/notice-and-request-for-comments-on-the-implications-of-access-and-benefit-sharing-abs.
    Purpose: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and 
the Department of State are charged with co-leading the U.S. delegation 
to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate 
a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on 
pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
    Specific topics and questions: Stakeholders are invited to provide 
comments on any and all issues raised by the negotiating text, 
including potential vehicles and means for implementation of 
commitments to which the U.S. may subscribe. To the extent commenters 
choose to comment on specific provisions of the negotiating text, it is 
helpful to reference any articles or sub-articles being addressed.
    To provide additional time for interested parties to consider and 
comment on the negotiating text, the Department is extending the 
comment period for all comments through January 31, 2024.

Susan Kim,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Global Affairs, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-01275 Filed 1-19-24; 8:45 am]
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