[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15808-15810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04562]
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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 April
8, 2024. 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 43rd Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of
Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
(CAC). CCMAS43 will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from May 13-May 18,
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 43rd Session of the
[[Page 15809]]
CCMAS and to address items on the agenda.
DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2024, from 1:00-
3:00 p.m. EDT.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference
only. Documents related to the 43rd 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=43.
Dr. Patrick Gray, U.S. Delegate to the 43rd 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/vJItfu6spzMoHW06zBJaZiV18JYLtvKUfnI. After registering, you will
receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the
meeting.
For further information about the 43rd Session of the CCMAS,
contact U.S. Delegate, Dr. Patrick Gray, Supervisory Chemist, Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Regulatory Science,
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (240) 402-5026,
[email protected]. For an additional information 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 Methods of
Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) 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 micro
biological 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 from the Agenda for the 43rd Session of the
CCMAS will be discussed during the public meeting:
Matters referred to the Committee by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and/or its subsidiary bodies
Endorsement of methods of analysis provisions and sampling
plans in Codex standards
Review of methods of analysis in CXS 234
Cereals, pulses, and legumes workable package
Fish and fishery products workable package
Fruit juices workable package
Information document: General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG
50-2004)-e-book with sampling plans applications
Discussion Papers on the following materials:
[cir] Numeric performance criteria for the determination of nitrate and
nitrite ions in certain food matrices
[cir] Methods of analysis for precautionary allergen labelling
Harmonization of names and format for principles
identified in CXS 234
Approach for the placement of nitrogen conversion factors
Listing of Type IV methods in CXS 234 when a Type I method
is listed for the same commodity and provision
Report of an Inter-Agency Meeting on Methods of Analysis
Other business and future work
Public Meeting
At the April 8, 2024, 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 Dr. Patrick Gray, U.S.
Delegate for the 43rd Session of the CCMAS, at
[email protected]. Written comments should state that they
relate to activities of the 43rd Session of the CCMAS.
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).
[[Page 15810]]
Done at Washington, DC, on February 28, 2024.
Julie Chao,
U.S. Deputy Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2024-04562 Filed 3-4-24; 8:45 am]
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