03-28513. Public Meeting; Veterinary Biologics

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Advance notice of public meeting and request for suggested agenda topics.

SUMMARY:

We are issuing this notice to inform producers and users of veterinary biological products, and other interested individuals, that we will be holding our 12th public meeting to discuss regulatory and policy issues related to the manufacture, distribution, and use of veterinary biological products. We are planning the meeting agenda and are requesting suggestions for topics of general interest to producers and other interested individuals.

DATES:

The public meeting will be held from Wednesday, April 7, through Friday, April 9, 2004, from 1 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to approximately noon on Friday.

ADDRESSES:

The public meeting will be held in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information on agenda topics, contact Dr. Richard E. Hill, Jr., Director, Center for Veterinary Biologics, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 510 South 17th Street, Suite 104, Ames, IA 50010-8197; phone [phone], fax [phone], or e-mail [e-mail]. For registration information, contact Ms. Kathy Clark at the same address and fax number; phone [phone] extension 128; or e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Since 1989, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has held 11 public meetings in Ames, IA, on veterinary biologics. The meetings provide an opportunity for the exchange of information between APHIS representatives, producers and users of veterinary biological products, and other interested individuals. APHIS is in the process of planning the agenda for the 12th such meeting, which will be held April 7 through April 9, 2004.

The agenda for the meeting is not yet complete. Topics that have been suggested include: (1) Vaccine use and role in emergency management; (2) vaccine development; (3) current Center for Veterinary Biologics activities; (4) regulatory initiatives; (5) animal care; and (6) international harmonization. Before finalizing the agenda, APHIS is seeking suggestions for additional meeting topics from the interested public.

We would also like to invite interested individuals to use this meeting to present their ideas and suggestions concerning the licensing, manufacturing, testing, and distribution of veterinary biologics.

Please submit suggested meeting topics and proposed presentation titles to Dr. Richard E. Hill (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above) on or before December 19, 2003. For proposed presentations, please include the name(s) of the presenter(s) and the approximate amount of time that will be needed for each presentation.

After the agenda is finalized, APHIS will announce the agenda topics in the Federal Register.

Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of November, 2003.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.