[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8267]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 7, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 93N-0195]
Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guide;
Availability; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending to May 31,
1994, the comment period on a notice that appeared in the in the
Federal Register of March 18, 1994 (59 FR 12949). The document
announced the availability of a draft guidance document entitled ``Fish
and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guide.'' In response to
several requests, FDA is publishing a document elsewhere in this issue
of the Federal Register to extend the comment period on the proposal to
adopt regulations to ensure the safe processing and importing of fish
and fishery products, including procedures for the monitoring of
selected process in accordance with Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Point (HACCP) principles (59 FR 4142, January 28, 1994). Because the
Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Control Guide was developed to
serve as an adjunct to the proposal, the agency believes that it would
be appropriate also to extend the comment period on it.
DATES: Written comments by May 31, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments, data or information to the Dockets
Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, rm. 1-23,
12420 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20857.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald W. Kraemer, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-401), Food and Drug Administration,
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-254-3885.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of March 18, 1994
(59 FR 12949), FDA issued a notice of availability for a draft guidance
document, the ``Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guide''
(hereafter referred to as the Guide). FDA has prepared this document as
an adjunct to proposed regulations on the safe processing and importing
of fish and fishery products.
The proposed regulations include procedures for the monitoring of
selected processes in accordance with Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Point (HACCP) principles. HACCP is a preventive system of hazard
control that can be used by food processors and importers.
The agency anticipates that the Guide will help members of the
seafood industry identify and control hazards associated with the fish
and fishery products they process and import. The Guide consists
largely of an inventory of known likely hazards and descriptions of
control measures that can be taken to minimize or prevent the
occurrence of those hazards. It includes a considerable amount of
detail that, to the best of FDA's knowledge, is either new or has never
been compiled in this manner before. For these reasons FDA believes
that public comment on the Guide would be extremely useful.
The notice of availability for the Guide stated that comments were
due by April 28, 1994. Although many copies of the Guide had been
distributed at public meetings and through other means before the
publication of the notice of availability, FDA is concerned that the
time between the publication of that notice and the end of the comment
period is not sufficient.
FDA has concluded that it is in the public interest to allow an
additional 30 days for comment. FDA considers that this amount of time
should be more than ample for interested persons to complete and submit
their comments.
FDA also believes that the reasons for extending the comment period
on the proposed rule apply to the Guide as well. Elsewhere in this
issue of the Federal Register, FDA is extending the comment period on
the proposed rule until May 31, 1994, based on several requests for an
extension.
Interested persons may, on or before May 31, 1994, submit to the
Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments regarding
the Guide. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, except that
individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be identified with the
docket number found in the heading of this document. Received comments
may be seen in the office above between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Dated: April 1, 1994.
Michael R. Taylor,
Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 94-8267 Filed 4-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
