05-2450. New Mexico State University/Food and Drug Administration Food Labeling; Public Workshop

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of public workshop.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Southwest Regional Small Business Representative Program (SWR SBR), in collaboration with New Mexico State University (NMSU), Department of Extension Home Economics is announcing a public workshop entitled “NMSU/FDA Food Labeling Workshop.” This public workshop is intended to provide information about FDA food labeling regulations and other related subjects to the regulated industry, particularly small businesses and startups.

Date and Time: The public workshop will be held on March 21, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on March 22, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: The public workshop will be held at NMSU, Las Cruces, NM 88003, Gerald Thomas Hall, rm. 337. Directions to the facility are available at http://www.nmsu.edu/​General/​Maps/​.¹

Contact: Gloria Hernandez, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003, 505-646-2198, FAX [phone], or e-mail: [e-mail].

Registration: Registration by March 11, 2005, is encouraged. NMSU has an $89 registration fee to cover the cost of facilities, materials, speakers, and breaks. Seats are limited to 80 people, please submit your registration as soon as possible. Course space will be filled in order of receipt of registration. Those accepted into the course will receive confirmation. Registration will close after the course is filled. Registration at the site is not guaranteed but may be possible on a space available basis on the day of the public workshop beginning at 8 a.m. The cost of registration at the site is $99 payable to New Mexico State University. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Gloria Hernandez (see Contact) at least 7 days in advance.

Registration Form Instructions: To register, please complete the form below and send along with a check or money order for $89 payable to the New Mexico State University. Mail to: New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003. After March 11, 2005, the registration cost is $99. Credit card payment is not available.

Name: ____________________

Affiliation:  ____________________

Mailing address: ____________________

City: ____________________ State:_______ Zip Code: ____________

Phone: (  ) _______________________

Fax: (  ) _______________________

E-mail: (  ) ____________________

Special Accommodations Required: ________________________________

Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be available due to the format of this workshop. Course handouts may be requested at cost through the Freedom of Information Office (HFI-35), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 12A-16, Rockville, MD 20857, approximately 15 working days after the public workshop at a cost of 10 cents per page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FDA Southwest Regional Small Business Representative previously presented this workshop in Kansas City, MO on December 21, 2001 (66 FR 65976), and in Dallas, TX on March 29, 2002 (67 FR 15211).

This public workshop is being held in response to the large volume of food labeling inquiries from small food manufacturers and startups originating from the area covered by the FDA Denver District Office. The Southwest Regional Small Business Representative presents these workshops to help achieve objectives set forth in section 406 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393), which include working closely with stakeholders and maximizing the availability and clarity of information to stakeholders and the public. This is consistent with the purposes of the Small Business Representative Program, which are in part to respond to industry inquiries, develop educational materials, sponsor workshops and conferences to provide firms, particularly small businesses, with firsthand working knowledge of FDA's requirements and compliance policies. This workshop is also consistent with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), as outreach activities by Government agencies to small businesses.

The goal of this public workshop is to present information that will enable manufacturers and regulated industry to better comply with labeling requirements, especially in light of growing concerns about obesity and food allergens. Information presented will be based on agency position as articulated through regulation, compliance policy guides, and information previously made available to the public. Topics to be discussed at the workshop include: (1) Mandatory label elements, (2) nutrition labeling requirements, (3) health and nutrition claims, (4) FDA's allergen declaration policy, and (5) special labeling issues such as exemptions. FDA expects that participation in this public workshop will provide regulated industry with greater understanding of the regulatory and policy perspectives on food labeling and increased voluntary compliance.

Dated: February 2, 2005.

Jeffrey Shuren,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.

Footnotes

1. FDA has verified the Web site address but is not responsible for subsequent changes to the Web site after this document publishes in the Federal Register.