96-14387Filed. Memorandum of Understanding Between the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Russian Federation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 29104-29106]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-14387Filed]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    
    Memorandum of Understanding Between the Food and Drug 
    Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Russian 
    Federation
    
    AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing notice of 
    a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between FDA and the U.S. Department 
    of Agriculture and
    
    [[Page 29105]]
    
    the Russian Federation. The purpose of the MOU is to exchange 
    information and identify and implement technical cooperation and 
    training activities for specialists for imported and domestic food in 
    several areas.
    
    DATES: The agreement became effective March 29, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank M. MacKeith, Center for Food 
    Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-585), Food and Drug Administration, 
    200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4045.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 21 CFR 20.108(c), which 
    states that all written agreements and memoranda of understanding 
    between FDA and others shall be published in the Federal Register, the 
    agency is publishing notice of this memorandum of understanding.
    
        Dated: May 30, 1996.
    William K. Hubbard,
    Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
    
    225-96-2005
    
    Memorandum of Understanding Between the Food and Drug Administration of 
    the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of 
    America and the Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department of 
    Agriculture of the United States of America and the State Committee for 
    Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Russian Federation and 
    the Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, Metrology 
    and Certification Concerning Technical Cooperation and Information 
    Exchange on Food Safety, Quality Control, and Labeling to Promote 
    Public Health and Facilitate Trade
    
    The Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and 
    Human Services of the United States of America,
    and
    The Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department of Agriculture of 
    the United States of America,
    on the one hand; and
    The State Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance 
    (GOSKOMSANEPIDNADZOR) of the Russian Federation,
    and
    The Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, 
    Metrology and Certification (GOSSTANDART),
    on the other hand;
        In keeping with the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of 
    Public Health and Biomedical Research signed on January 14, 1994, by 
    the Governments of the United States and the Russian Federation,
        Desiring to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation 
    between the Russian Federation and the United States of America,
        Recognizing that both the Russian Federation and the United 
    States of America give special importance to the protection of 
    public health by way of ensuring the safety, quality, and correct 
    labeling of food,
        Desiring to facilitate the trade of food between the Russian 
    Federation and the United States of America,
        And noting that increasing global trade of food and global trade 
    agreements require that governments work to harmonize sanitary 
    measures while not compromising food safety,
        Have reached the following general understanding to guide their 
    cooperation:
    
    I. Objectives
    
    The objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding are to:
        A. Exchange information and identify and implement technical 
    cooperation and training activities for specialists, including 
    conducting workshops. These activities may be undertaken for 
    imported and domestic food in the following areas: food safety, 
    quality, labeling, laws and regulations; food examination, 
    sanitation and control procedures and policies; risk assessment; 
    analytical methodology; consumer food hygiene education; and other 
    areas where additional information is needed concerning either 
    side's food safety, quality control, and labeling systems.
        B. Assist in ensuring transparency in the establishment and 
    application of each side's sanitary measures.
        C. Identify the systems used by each side and the type of 
    documents that would be acceptable to each side to demonstrate the 
    safety, quality, and labeling of food in accordance with the laws in 
    the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
        D. Provide confidence and build foundations for future 
    agreements to ensure the safety, quality and correct labeling of 
    food and to facilitate food trade for both the Russian Federation 
    and the United States of America.
        E. Develop and enhance systems for consideration and resolution 
    of issues related to food safety, quality, and labeling to promote 
    public health and facilitate trade between the Russian Federation 
    and the United States of America.
        F. Exchange information on the activities and deliberations of 
    international food safety and quality standard-setting 
    organizations, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Facilitate 
    the participation in such international organizations, and work 
    within the framework of multilateral agreements toward harmonization 
    of food requirements.
        G. Provide distribution of information on each government's food 
    import requirements to exporters in the Russian Federation and the 
    United States of America.
    
    II. Implementation
    
    To achieve these goals, both sides intend to:
        A. Meet and consult periodically to discuss emerging issues and 
    to promote cooperation in carrying out the objectives of this 
    Memorandum of Understanding. Meetings should alternate between the 
    Russian Federation and the United States of America and will be held 
    on mutually agreeable dates and at mutually agreeable places. Each 
    side should designate a Chairperson. Together, they should develop 
    meeting agendas and circulate appropriate information to 
    participants prior to the meeting. Agenda topics and briefing papers 
    should be identified as items for active discussion, information 
    requests, or training needs. In addition, the Chairperson for the 
    host country should be responsible for preparing and obtaining 
    agreement on the minutes of the meeting.
        B. Facilitate the import and export of food through the exchange 
    of regulatory information on sanitary measures, requirements, and 
    standards.
        C. Work towards identifying the kinds of documents that 
    demonstrate safety, quality, and correct labeling of food in 
    accordance with the regulations and laws of the Russian Federation 
    and the United States of America.
        D. Identify and consider conducting technical cooperation and 
    training programs for specialists from GOSKOMSANEPIDNADZOR, 
    GOSSTANDART, and the Institute of Nutrition, Russian Academy of 
    Medical Sciences.
        E. Facilitate cooperation between the scientific centers of the 
    Russian Federation and the United States of America, working in the 
    area of food safety, quality, and labeling.
        F. Provide information, as available, on the safety, quality, 
    and labeling of food for export and on the manufacturers, producers 
    or processors of this food.
        All activities carried out under this Memorandum of 
    Understanding are subject to the availability of appropriated funds, 
    resources and personnel and are to be conducted in accordance with 
    the laws of the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
    
    III. Coordinators
    
        Each participant in this Memorandum of Understanding should name 
    a contact person to assist in logistical activities, and coordinate 
    followup actions and implement the decisions reached during the 
    meetings.
        Activities under this Memorandum of Understanding will begin on 
    the last date of signature of all participants. After the first year 
    the participants plan to evaluate the Memorandum, thereafter, no 
    less than once every 5 years. It may be amended by mutual written 
    consent or terminated by any participant upon a 60-day written 
    notice to the other participants.
    Done in duplicate, in the Russian and English languages.
    
    For the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of 
    America:
    
    /s/ Donna E. Shalala
    January 30, 1996
    Washington, D.C.
    
    
    [[Page 29106]]
    
    
    
    For the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America: and 
    Certification:
    
    /s/ Richard E. Rominger
    January 30, 1996
    Washington, D.C.
    
    For the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America:
    
    /s/ Mary Pendergast
    January 30, 1996
    Washington, D.C.
    
    For the State Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance 
    of the Russian Federation:
    
    /s/ G. G. Onitshenko
    January 30, 1996
    Washington, D.C.
    
    For the Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, 
    Metrology, and Certification:
    
    /s/ S. Bezverkhi
    March 29, 1996
    Moscow, Russian Federation
    
    
    [FR Doc. 96-14387Filed 6-06-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
3/29/1996
Published:
06/07/1996
Department:
Health and Human Services Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
96-14387Filed
Dates:
The agreement became effective March 29, 1996.
Pages:
29104-29106 (3 pages)
PDF File:
96-14387filed.pdf