[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 51053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25573]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 51053]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-053N]
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for
Foods; Renewal
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Rechartering of Committee.
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This notice announces the rechartering of the National Advisory
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. The Committee is being
renewed in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). The establishment of the Committee was recommended by 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 Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with the
enforcement of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry
Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act
(EPIA). Under these Acts, USDA is responsible for the wholesomeness and
safety of meat, poultry, and egg products intended for human
consumption. Similarly, the Secretary of HHS is charged with the
enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Under
this Act, HHS is responsible for ensuring the safety of human foods
other than meat, poultry, and egg products and of animal feeds.
In order to continue to meet the responsibilities of FMIA, PPIA,
EPIA, and FFDCA, the National Committee on Microbiological Criteria for
Foods is being reestablished. The Committee will be tasked with
advising and providing recommendations to the Secretaries on the
development of microbiological criteria by which the safety and
wholesomeness of food can be assessed, including criteria for
microorganisms that indicate whether foods have been processed using
good manufacturing practices.
Reestablishment of this Committee is necessary and in the public
interest because the development of a sound public policy in this area
can best be accomplished by a free and open exchange of information and
ideas among Federal, State, and local agencies, and other interested
parties. This complexity of the issues to be addressed assures that
more than one meeting will be required to accomplish the Committee's
tasks.
Members will be appointed by the Secretary of USDA after
consultation with the Secretary of HHS. Because of their interest in
the matters to be addressed by this Committee, advice on membership
appointments will be requested from the Department of Commerce's
National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Defense's
Veterinary Service Activity.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Amelia L. Wright,
Advisory Committee Specialist, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, Suite 6913 Franklin Court, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-3700. Background materials are available for
inspection by contacting Ms. Wright at (202) 501-7343.
Reba Evans,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-25573 Filed 9-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
