99-16188. Apple Cider Food Safety Control; Workshop  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 122 (Friday, June 25, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 34125-34126]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-16188]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    
    Food and Drug Administration
    
    21 CFR Part 101
    
    [Docket No. 99N-1979]
    
    
    Apple Cider Food Safety Control; Workshop
    
    Agency: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
    Action: Notice of workshop.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a 
    workshop on food safety controls for the apple cider industry. The 
    workshop will clarify issues related to the implementation of the 
    agency's regulations requiring a warning statement for certain juice 
    products. Specifically, the workshop will address pathogen reduction 
    interventions that may be effective for apple cider production and the 
    methods used to measure and validate such interventions. Results of 
    research conducted by Federal, State, private, and academic 
    institutions will be presented.
    
    DATES: The workshop will be held on Thursday, July 15, 1999, from 9 
    a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, July 16, 1999, from 9 a.m. to noon. Written 
    comments and requests to distribute materials and scientific studies at 
    the meeting will be accepted until Friday, July 2, 1999. Submit written 
    notices of registration by July 8, 1999.
    
    ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Department of Health and 
    Human Services, Hubert Humphrey Bldg., conference room 705-A, 200 
    Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20201. Submit registration and 
    written notices of participation to Darrell J. Schwalm (address below). 
    Submit written comments, written requests to distribute materials, and 
    materials regarding relevant scientific studies to be distributed at 
    the workshop to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
    Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Two 
    copies of any comments and materials to be distributed are to be 
    submitted, except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments and 
    materials to be distributed are to be identified with the docket number 
    found in brackets in the heading of this document.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darrell J. Schwalm, Center for Food 
    Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-625), Food and Drug Administration, 
    200 C. St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4040, FAX 202-205-4121 or 
    e-mail alm@bangate.fda.gov''.
        Registration for the workshop will be provided on a first come 
    first served basis. Persons interested in attending this workshop 
    should, by Friday, July 8, 1999, fax their name, title, firm name,
    
    [[Page 34126]]
    
    address, telephone and fax number, and e-mail address to Darrell J. 
    Schwalm (fax number above). If you need special accommodations due to a 
    disability, please contact Darrell J. Schwalm (address above) at least 
    7 days in advance.
        Interested persons should note that additional information 
    regarding the workshop will be posted on FDA's web site 
    ``www.cfsan.fda.gov'', as it becomes available. Accordingly, such 
    persons are encouraged to visit that web site on a regular basis until 
    the workshop convenes.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of July 8, 1998 (63 
    FR 37030), FDA published a final regulation that required a warning 
    statement on fruit and vegetable juice products that have not been 
    processed to prevent, reduce, or eliminate pathogenic microorganisms 
    that may be present in such juices. The regulation provides that the 
    warning statement requirement does not apply to a juice that has been 
    processed in a manner that will result in, at a minimum, a reduction in 
    the pertinent microorganism of at least a 5-log magnitude (i.e., 
    100,000 fold). In the preamble to the proposed rule (63 FR 20486, April 
    24, 1998), FDA recognized that pasteurization is a process that can 
    produce the 5-log reduction. The agency also noted that manufacturers 
    may be able to use other technologies and practices, individually or in 
    combination, to achieve the 5-log reduction, provided that the 
    manufacturer's process is validated to achieve the 5-log reduction in 
    the target microorganism.
        In the preamble to the final regulation, FDA indicated it would be 
    willing to meet with manufacturers or groups of manufacturers to 
    discuss and evaluate their proposed processes. FDA also stated that in 
    order to help processors meet the pathogen reduction standard, the 
    agency would make available, in accordance with part 20 (21 CFR part 
    20) of its regulations, information received by the agency regarding 
    processes that have been validated to achieve a 5-log reduction.
        The July 15 and 16, 1999, workshop will include a discussion of the 
    control measures, that FDA is aware of, that can be used for apple 
    cider production and of the methods for measuring and validating the 
    effectiveness of measures in reducing pathogens. At the beginning of 
    the workshop, a proceedings document will be provided to registered 
    participants.
        FDA believes that this workshop will also provide an opportunity 
    for industry representatives and other members of the public to discuss 
    information regarding control measures that are believed to achieve the 
    5-log reduction. Participants are requested to bring to the workshop at 
    least 50 copies of any written or published materials they wish to 
    distribute. Agency experts will be available to answer technical food 
    safety questions.
        A video recording of the proceedings will be prepared; copies of 
    the video may be requested in writing from 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 
    meeting. The video recording of the meeting, submitted comments, and 
    materials for distribution will be available for public examination at 
    the Dockets Management Branch (address above) between 9 a.m. and 4 
    p.m., Monday through Friday.
    
        Dated: June 21, 1999.
    Margaret M. Dotzel,
    Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
    [FR Doc. 99-16188 Filed 6-22-99; 12:38 pm]
    BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/25/1999
Department:
Food and Drug Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Notice of workshop.
Document Number:
99-16188
Dates:
The workshop will be held on Thursday, July 15, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, July 16, 1999, from 9 a.m. to noon. Written comments and requests to distribute materials and scientific studies at the meeting will be accepted until Friday, July 2, 1999. Submit written notices of registration by July 8, 1999.
Pages:
34125-34126 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 99N-1979
PDF File:
99-16188.pdf
CFR: (1)
21 CFR 101