[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29313-29314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14142]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR Parts 101, 161, and 501
[Docket No. 92P-0441]
Food Labeling; Net Quantity of Contents; Compliance; Extension of
Comment Period
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending to
September 2, 1997, the comment period for a proposal to revise the
agency's human and animal food labeling regulations that pertain to
declarations of net quantity of contents on food packages. The proposed
rule was published in the Federal Register of March 4, 1997 (62 FR
9826). The agency is taking this action in response to two requests for
an extension of the comment period. This extension is intended to
provide interested persons with additional time to submit comments to
FDA on its proposal.
DATES: Written comments by September 2, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23,
Rockville, MD 20857.
[[Page 29314]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loretta A. Carey, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-158), Food and Drug Administration,
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-5099.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of March 4, 1997 (62
FR 9826), FDA published a proposed rule to revise its human and animal
food labeling regulations that pertain to declarations of net quantity
of contents on food packages. That proposal set out procedures for
determining whether net quantity of contents declarations accurately
reflect the amount of product in food packages. Interested persons were
given until June 2, 1997, to comment on the proposed rule.
FDA has received letters from trade associations that represent
major segments of both the food and feed industries requesting the
agency to grant a 90-day extension of the comment period on its
proposed rule for determining compliance for net quantity of contents
declarations. The requests argued that the proposed regulation is
unusually technical in nature and includes procedures that will affect
both food and feed manufacturers and consumers. The requests contend
that additional time is needed for interested persons to evaluate fully
the impact of the proposed regulation on various products and to assess
and develop potential alternatives to the proposed procedures. The
agency acknowledges that the proposed rule is quite technical in nature
and, after careful consideration, has decided to grant an extension of
the comment period until September 2, 1997.
Interested persons may, on or before September 2, 1997, submit to
the Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments
regarding this proposed rule. 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 brackets in the heading
of this document. Received comments may be seen in the office above
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Dated: May 13, 1997.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 97-14142 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
