[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1113-1114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-480]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Request for Nominations for Members of Public Advisory
Committees; Food Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting
nominations for members to serve on the Food Advisory Committee (the
Committee) in FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies and vacancies that
will or may occur on the Committee during the next 12 months.
FDA has special interest in ensuring that women, minority groups,
and the physically handicapped are adequately represented on advisory
committees and, therefore, extends particular encouragement to
nominations of appropriately qualified female, minority, or physically
handicapped candidates. Final selection from among qualified candidates
for each vacancy will be determined by the expertise required to meet
specific agency needs and in a manner to ensure appropriate balance of
membership.
DATES: February 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: All nominations for membership, except for consumer-
nominated members, should be sent to Catherine M. DeRoever (address
below). All nominations for the consumer-nominated members should be
sent to Annette J. Funn (address below).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Regarding all nominations for membership, except consumer-nominated
members: Catherine M. DeRoever, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition (HFS-22), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW.,
Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4251.
Regarding all nominations for consumer-nominated members: Annette
J. Funn, Office of Consumer Affairs (HFE-88), Food and Drug
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-5006.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FDA is requesting nominations for members to
serve on the advisory committee listed below. Individuals should have
expertise in the activity of the Committee. Vacancies will occur June
30, 1998.
Food Advisory Committee
The Committee provides advice primarily to the Director, Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and as needed, to the Commissioner
of Food and Drugs, and other appropriate officials, on emerging food
safety, food science, and nutrition issues that FDA considers of
primary importance. The Committee also provides advice and makes
recommendations on ways of communicating to the public the potential
risks associated with these issues and recommends approaches to be
considered in addressing them.
Criteria for Members
Persons nominated for membership on the Committee shall be
knowledgeable in the fields of physical sciences, biological and life
sciences, food science, risk assessment, and other relevant scientific
disciplines. The agency is particularly interested in considering
candidates from a variety of medical specialties because many issues
brought before the committee involve medical or epidemiologic impact on
nutrients, additives, contaminants, or other constituents of the diet.
The term of office is up to 4 years.
The Committee includes technically qualified members who are
identified with consumer interests and representatives of industry
interests.
Nomination Procedures
Interested persons may nominate one or more qualified persons for
membership on the Committee. Nominations shall state that the nominee
is willing to serve as a member of the Committee and appears to have no
conflict of interest that would preclude Committee membership.
[[Page 1114]]
Additionally, the nominee's mailing address, telephone number, and
curriculum vitae must accompany the nominations. The agency cannot
guarantee further consideration of nominations that do not include this
requested information. Potential candidates will be asked by FDA to
provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial
holdings, employment, consultancies, and research grants and/or
contracts to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of
interest.
Criteria for Consumer-Nominated Members
Selection of representatives of consumer interests will be
conducted through procedures that include use of a consortium of
consumer organizations which has the responsibility for screening,
interviewing, and recommending candidates for the agency's selection.
Candidates from this group, like all other candidates for membership on
the Committee, should posses appropriate qualifications to understand
and contribute to the Committee's work.
Industry Representatives
Regarding nominations for members representing industry interests,
a letter will be sent to each person or organization that has made a
nomination and to other organizations that have expressed an interest
in participating in the selection process together with a complete list
of all such organizations and the nominees. The letter will state that
it is the responsibility of each nominator or organization that has
expressed an interest in participating in the selection process to
consult with the others to provide a consensus slate of possible
members representing industry interests within 60 days. In the event
that a slate of nominees has not been provided within 60 days, the
agency will select an industry representative for each such vacancy
from the entire list of industry nominees to avoid delay or disruption
of the work of the Committee. The agency is particularly interested in
nominees that possess the essential scientific credentials needed to
participate fully and knowledgeably in the Committee's deliberations.
In addition to this expertise, the agency believes that it would be an
advantage to the Committee's work if the individual(s) had special
insight and direct experience into specific industrywide issues,
practices, and concerns that might not otherwise be available to others
not similarly situated.
This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. app. 2) and 21 CFR part 14, relating to advisory committees.
Dated: January 2, 1998.
Michael A. Friedman,
Deputy Commissioner for Operations.
[FR Doc. 98-480 Filed 1-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
