02-11626. Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY:

Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). Nominations for membership are being sought from individuals with scientific expertise in the fields of epidemiology, food technology, microbiology (food, clinical, and predictive), risk assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics, and other related sciences. Persons from State and Federal governments, industry, consumer groups, and academia, as well as all other interested persons, are invited to submit nominations.

DATES:

The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae may be received for 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be sent to Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee Specialist, USDA, FSIS, Room 333 Aerospace Center, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee Specialist, at the above address or by telephone [phone] or FAX [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The NACMCF was established in March 1988, in response to a recommendation in a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria, “An Evaluation of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.” The current Charter for the NACMCF and other information about the Committee are available for viewing on the NACMCF homepage at www.fsis.usda.gov/​ophs/​nacmcf/​.

The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. For example, the Committee assists in the development of criteria for microorganisms that indicate whether food has been processed under sanitary conditions.

Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that recommendations made by the Committee take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department. Membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Nominees who are selected will be required to submit a Financial Disclosure form AD-755, available on-line at: www.fsis.usda.gov/​ophs/​nacmcf/​.

Given the complexity of issues, the full Committee expects to meet at least once yearly and the meetings will be announced in the Federal Register. The subcommittees will meet as frequently as deemed necessary by the chairperson and will be held as working group meetings in an open public forum. The subcommittee meetings will not be announced in the Federal Register. FSIS will announce the agenda and subcommittee working group meetings through the Constituent Update available on-line at www.fsis.usda.gov. NACMCF holds subcommittee working groups in order to accomplish the work of NACMCF; all work accomplished by the subcommittees is reviewed and approved by the full Committee during a Federal Register announced public meeting of the full Committee. The subcommittee may invite technical experts to present information for consideration by the subcommittee. All data and records available to the subcommittee are expected to be available to the public at the time the full Committee reviews and approves the work of the subcommittee.

Appointment to the Advisory Committee is a two-year term; renewable for three consecutive terms. Members must be prepared to work outside of scheduled Committee and subcommittee meetings, and may require document preparation. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis; however, travel reimbursement and per diem is available.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this Federal Register publication both on the FSIS and NACMCF web pages and in the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. In addition, the update is available on-line through the FSIS web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The constituent fax list consists of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be included. Through these various channels, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your request to the Congressional and Public Affairs Office, at [phone].

Done at Washington, DC on: May 6, 2002.

William J. Hudnall,

Acting Administrator.