2014-12094. Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule that appeared in the Federal Register of March 3, 2014. In the proposed rule, FDA requested comments on FDA's revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. We are taking this action in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

DATES:

FDA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule published on March 3, 2014 (79 FR 11880). Submit either electronic or written comments by August 1, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

Electronic Submissions

Submit electronic comments in the following way:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Written Submissions

Submit written submissions in the following ways:

• Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name, Docket No. FDA-2012-N-1210, and RIN 0910-AF22 for this rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information provided. For additional information on submitting comments, see the “Request for Comments” heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Blakeley Fitzpatrick, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-830), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-5429, email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

In the Federal Register of March 3, 2014 (79 FR 11880), we published a proposed rule entitled “Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels” with a 90-day comment period to request comments on amending our regulations for conventional foods and dietary supplements to provide updated nutrition information on the label to assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices. Comments on the proposed rule will inform FDA's rulemaking to amend the regulations for the Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels.

We received multiple requests for a 90-day extension of the comment period and one request for a 120-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule. Each request conveyed concern that the original 90-day comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop a meaningful or thoughtful response to the proposed rule.

We have considered the requests and are extending the comment period for the proposed rule for 60 days, until August 1, 2014. We believe that a 60-day extension allows adequate time for interested persons to submit comments without significantly delaying rulemaking on these important issues.

II. Request for Comments

Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to send one set of comments. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

Dated: May 21, 2014.

Leslie Kux,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.