[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

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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).


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    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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