E9-20483. Request for Notification From Industry Organizations Interested in Participating in the Selection Process for a Nonvoting Industry Representative on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee and Request for Nominations for a ...

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting that any industry organizations interested in participating in the selection of a nonvoting industry representative to serve on its Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee notify FDA in writing. A nominee may either be self-nominated or nominated by an organization to serve as a nonvoting industry representative. Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies effective with this notice. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing two separate documents announcing the establishment of the committee and the request for nomination of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

DATES:

Any industry organization interested in participating in the selection of an appropriate nonvoting member to represent industry interests must send a letter stating the interest to FDA by September 25, 2009, for vacancies listed in the notice. Concurrently, nomination material for prospective candidates should be sent to FDA by September 25, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

All nominations for membership should be sent electronically to [e-mail], or by mail to Advisory Committee Oversight & Management Staff, 5600 Fishers Lane (HF-4), rm. 14C03, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Erik P. Mettler, Office of Policy, Office of the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 1, rm. 4324, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-4711, FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The agency requests nominations for nonvoting industry representatives on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing two separate documents announcing the establishment of the committee and the request for nomination of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

I. Center for Tobacco

Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee advises the Commissioner or designee in discharging responsibilities as they relate to the regulation of tobacco products. The Committee reviews and evaluates safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and provides appropriate advice, information, and recommendations to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

The Committee shall include three nonvoting members who are identified with industry interests. These members shall include one representative of the tobacco manufacturing industry, one representative of the interests of tobacco growers, and one representative of the interests of the small business tobacco manufacturing industry. This final position can be filled on a rotating, sequential basis by representatives of different small business tobacco manufacturers based on areas of expertise relevant to the topics being considered by the Committee.

II. Selection Procedure

Any industry organization interested in participating in the selection of an appropriate nonvoting member to represent industry interests should send a letter stating that interest to the FDA contact (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) within 30 days of publication of this document. Within the subsequent 30 days, FDA will send a letter to each organization that has expressed an interest, attaching a complete list of all such organizations; and a list of all nominees along with their current resumes. The letter will also state that it is the responsibility of the interested organizations to confer with one another and to select a candidate, within 60 days after the receipt of the FDA letter, to serve as the nonvoting member to represent industry interests for the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. The interested organizations are not bound by the list of nominees in selecting a candidate. However, if no individual is selected within 60 days, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs will select the nonvoting member to represent industry interests.

III. Application Procedure

Individuals may self nominate and/or an organization may nominate one or more individuals to serve as a nonvoting industry representative. A current curriculum vitae and the name of the committee of interest should be sent to the FDA contact person within the 30 days. FDA will forward all nominations to the organizations expressing interest in participating in the selection process for the committee. (Persons who nominate themselves as nonvoting industry representatives will not participate in the selection process).

FDA has a special interest in ensuring that women, minority groups, individuals with physical disabilities, and small businesses are adequately represented on its advisory committees, and therefore, encourages, nominations for appropriately qualified candidates from these groups.

This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2) and 21 CFR part 14, relating to advisory committees.

Dated: August 19, 2009.

David Horowitz,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.