80 FR 77601 - Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 240 (December 15, 2015)
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 240 (December 15, 2015)
| Page Range | 77601-77602 | |
| FR Document | 2015-31459 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 77601-77602] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-31459] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS-2015-0040] Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is sponsoring a public meeting on January 14, 2016. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions to be discussed at the 22nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), taking place in Melbourne, Australia, February 6-12, 2016. The Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 22nd Session of the CCFICS and to address items on the agenda. DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 14, 2016 from 2-4 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place at the Jamie L. Whitten Building, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 107-A, Washington, DC 20250. Documents related to the 22nd Session of the CCFICS will be accessible via the Internet at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en. Mary Stanley, U.S. Delegate to the 22nd Session of the CCFICS invites U.S. interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address [email protected]. Call-In-Number: If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 22nd Session of the CCFICS by conference call, please use the call-in-number and participant code listed below. Call-In-Number: 1-888-844-9904. The participant code will be posted on the Web page below: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/us-codex-alimentarius/public-meetings. Registration: Attendees may register to attend the public meeting by emailing [email protected] by January 8, 2016. Early registration is encouraged because it will expedite entry into the building. The meeting will take place in a Federal building. Attendees should bring photo identification and plan for adequate time to pass through the security screening systems. Attendees who are not able to attend the meeting in person, but who wish to participate, may do so by phone. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Further Information About the 22nd Session Of CCFICS Contact: Mary Stanley, Director, Office of International Coordination, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2925, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250 Phone: (202) 720-0287, Fax: (202) 720-4929, Email: [email protected]. For Further Information About the Public Meeting Contact: Kenneth Lowery, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, [[Page 77602]] Washington, DC 20250 Phone: (202) 690-4042, Fax: (202) 720-3157, Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. The CCFICS is responsible for: (a) Developing principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification systems with a view to harmonizing methods and procedures that protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trading practices, and facilitate international trade in foodstuffs; (b) Developing principles and guidelines for the application of measures by the competent authorities of exporting and importing countries to provide assurance where necessary that foodstuffs comply with requirements, especially statutory health requirements; (c) Developing guidelines for the utilization, as and when appropriate, of quality assurance systems to ensure that foodstuffs conform with requirements and to promote the recognition of these systems in facilitating trade in food products under bilateral/ multilateral arrangements by countries; (d) Developing guidelines and criteria with respect to format, declarations and language of such official certificates as countries may require with a view towards international harmonization; (e) Making recommendations for information exchange in relation to food import/export control; (f) Consulting as necessary with other international groups working on matters related to food inspection and certification systems; and (g) Considering other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to food inspection and certification systems. The Committee is hosted by Australia. Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting The following items on the Agenda for the 22nd Session of CCFICS will be discussed during the public meeting:Activities of International Organizations relevant to the work of CCFICS Activities of FAO and WHO Activities of other International Organizations: (a) World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) contribution to the 22nd Session of CCFICS (b) Contribution by the World Customs Organization to the 22nd Session of CCFICS Draft principles and guidelines for the exchange of information (including questionnaires) between countries to support food import and export Draft Guidance for monitoring the performance of national food control systems Revision of the Principles and Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Safety Emergency Situations Revision of the Guidelines for the Exchange of Information between Countries on Rejections of Imported Food Discussion paper on system comparability or equivalence Discussion paper on the use of electronic certificates by competent authorities and migration to paperless certification Discussion paper on consideration of emerging issues and future directions for the work of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Discussion paper on system comparability or equivalence Other business and future work Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, or to be distributed, by the Secretariat prior to the Committee Meeting. Members of the public may access or request copies of these documents (see ADDRESSES). Public Meeting At the January 14, 2016 public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to Mary Stanley, U.S. Delegate for the 22nd Session of the CCFICS (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 22nd Session of CCFICS. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their accounts. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to discrimination any person in the United States under any program or activity conducted by the USDA. How To File a Complaint of Discrimination To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your authorized representative. Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, Fax: (202) 690-7442, Email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Done at Washington, DC on December 9, 2015. Mary Frances Lowe, U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius. [FR Doc. 2015-31459 Filed 12-14-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 / Notices 77601
• Sampling in Codex standards States under any program or activity background information on the 22nd
• Other Business and Future Work conducted by the USDA. Session of the CCFICS and to address
Each issue listed will be fully items on the agenda.
How To File a Complaint of
described in documents distributed, or Discrimination DATES: The public meeting is scheduled
to be distributed, by the Secretariat prior for Thursday, January 14, 2016 from
To file a complaint of discrimination, 2–4 p.m.
to the Committee Meeting. Members of
complete the USDA Program
the public may access or request copies ADDRESSES: The public meeting will
Discrimination Complaint Form, which
of these documents (see ADDRESSES). take place at the Jamie L. Whitten
may be accessed online at http://
Building, United States Department of
Public Meeting www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence
docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_
At the January 19, 2016 public Avenue SW., Room 107–A, Washington,
12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you
meeting, draft U.S. positions on the DC 20250. Documents related to the
or your authorized representative.
agenda items will be described and 22nd Session of the CCFICS will be
Send your completed complaint form
discussed, and attendees will have the accessible via the Internet at the
or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:
opportunity to pose questions and offer Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, following address: http://
comments. Written comments may be Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-
offered at the meeting or sent to the U.S. Independence Avenue SW., reports/en.
Delegate for the 37th Session of CCMAS, Washington, DC 20250–9410, Fax: (202) Mary Stanley, U.S. Delegate to the
Gregory Noonan (see ADDRESSES). 690–7442, Email: program.intake@ 22nd Session of the CCFICS invites U.S.
Written comments should state that they usda.gov. interested parties to submit their
relate to activities of the 37th Session of Persons with disabilities who require comments electronically to the
CCMAS. alternative means for communication following email address Mary.Stanley@
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), fsis.usda.gov.
Additional Public Notification
should contact USDA’s TARGET Center Call-In-Number:
Public awareness of all segments of at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). If you wish to participate in the
rulemaking and policy development is public meeting for the 22nd Session of
important. Consequently, FSIS will Done at Washington, DC on December 9, the CCFICS by conference call, please
2015.
announce this Federal Register use the call-in-number and participant
publication on-line through the FSIS Mary Frances Lowe,
code listed below.
Web page located at: http:// U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius. Call-In-Number: 1–888–844–9904.
www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register . [FR Doc. 2015–31458 Filed 12–14–15; 8:45 am] The participant code will be posted
FSIS also will make copies of this BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P on the Web page below: http://
publication available through the FSIS www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/
Constituent Update, which is used to topics/international-affairs/us-codex-
provide information regarding FSIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE alimentarius/public-meetings.
policies, procedures, regulations, Registration:
Food Safety and Inspection Service Attendees may register to attend the
Federal Register notices, FSIS public
meetings, and other types of information [Docket No. FSIS–2015–0040] public meeting by emailing
that could affect or would be of interest Kenneth.Lowery@fsis.usda.gov by
to our constituents and stakeholders. Codex Alimentarius Commission: January 8, 2016. Early registration is
The Update is available on the FSIS Meeting of the Codex Committee on encouraged because it will expedite
Web page. Through the Web page, FSIS Food Import and Export Inspection and entry into the building. The meeting
is able to provide information to a much Certification Systems will take place in a Federal building.
broader, more diverse audience. In AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary Attendees should bring photo
addition, FSIS offers an email for Food Safety, USDA. identification and plan for adequate
subscription service which provides ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
time to pass through the security
automatic and customized access to request for comments. screening systems. Attendees who are
selected food safety news and not able to attend the meeting in person,
information. This service is available at: SUMMARY: The Office of the Under but who wish to participate, may do so
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe . Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. by phone.
Options range from recalls to export Department of Agriculture (USDA), FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
information, regulations, directives, and Food Safety and Inspection Service For Further Information About the
notices. Customers can add or delete (FSIS), is sponsoring a public meeting 22nd Session Of CCFICS Contact: Mary
subscriptions themselves, and have the on January 14, 2016. The objective of Stanley, Director, Office of International
option to password protect their the public meeting is to provide Coordination, Food Safety and
accounts. information and receive public Inspection Service, U.S. Department of
comments on agenda items and draft Agriculture, Room 2925, South
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
United States (U.S.) positions to be Agriculture Building, 1400
No agency, officer, or employee of the discussed at the 22nd Session of the Independence Avenue SW.,
USDA shall, on the grounds of race, Codex Committee on Food Import and Washington, DC 20250
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
color, national origin, religion, sex, Export Inspection and Certification Phone: (202) 720–0287, Fax: (202)
gender identity, sexual orientation, Systems (CCFICS) of the Codex 720–4929, Email: Mary.Stanley@
disability, age, marital status, family/ Alimentarius Commission (Codex), fsis.usda.gov.
parental status, income derived from a taking place in Melbourne, Australia, For Further Information About the
public assistance program, or political February 6–12, 2016. The Under Public Meeting Contact: Kenneth
beliefs, exclude from participation in, Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the Lowery, U.S. Codex Office, 1400
deny the benefits of, or subject to importance of providing interested Independence Avenue SW., Room 4861,
discrimination any person in the United parties the opportunity to obtain South Agriculture Building,
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![77602 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 / Notices
Washington, DC 20250 Phone: (202) • Activities of FAO and WHO Constituent Update, which is used to
690–4042, Fax: (202) 720–3157, Email: • Activities of other International provide information regarding FSIS
Kenneth.Lowery@fsis.usda.gov. Organizations: policies, procedures, regulations,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (a) World Organisation for Animal Federal Register notices, FSIS public
Health (OIE) contribution to the meetings, and other types of information
Background 22nd Session of CCFICS that could affect or would be of interest
Codex was established in 1963 by two (b) Contribution by the World Customs to our constituents and stakeholders.
United Nations organizations, the Food Organization to the 22nd Session of The Update is available on the FSIS
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and CCFICS Web page. Through the Web page, FSIS
the World Health Organization (WHO). • Draft principles and guidelines for the is able to provide information to a much
Through adoption of food standards, exchange of information (including broader, more diverse audience. In
codes of practice, and other guidelines questionnaires) between countries to addition, FSIS offers an email
developed by its committees, and by support food import and export subscription service which provides
promoting their adoption and • Draft Guidance for monitoring the automatic and customized access to
implementation by governments, Codex performance of national food control selected food safety news and
seeks to protect the health of consumers systems information. This service is available at:
and ensure fair practices in the food • Revision of the Principles and http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe.
trade. Guidelines for the Exchange of Options range from recalls to export
The CCFICS is responsible for: Information in Food Safety information, regulations, directives, and
(a) Developing principles and Emergency Situations notices. Customers can add or delete
guidelines for food import and export • Revision of the Guidelines for the subscriptions themselves, and have the
inspection and certification systems Exchange of Information between option to password protect their
with a view to harmonizing methods Countries on Rejections of Imported accounts.
and procedures that protect the health Food
of consumers, ensure fair trading • Discussion paper on system USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
practices, and facilitate international comparability or equivalence No agency, officer, or employee of the
trade in foodstuffs; • Discussion paper on the use of USDA shall, on the grounds of race,
(b) Developing principles and electronic certificates by competent color, national origin, religion, sex,
guidelines for the application of authorities and migration to paperless gender identity, sexual orientation,
measures by the competent authorities certification disability, age, marital status, family/
of exporting and importing countries to • Discussion paper on consideration of parental status, income derived from a
provide assurance where necessary that emerging issues and future directions public assistance program, or political
foodstuffs comply with requirements, for the work of the Codex Committee beliefs, exclude from participation in,
especially statutory health on Food Import and Export Inspection deny the benefits of, or subject to
requirements; and Certification discrimination any person in the United
(c) Developing guidelines for the • Discussion paper on system States under any program or activity
utilization, as and when appropriate, of comparability or equivalence conducted by the USDA.
quality assurance systems to ensure that • Other business and future work
foodstuffs conform with requirements Each issue listed will be fully How To File a Complaint of
and to promote the recognition of these described in documents distributed, or Discrimination
systems in facilitating trade in food to be distributed, by the Secretariat prior To file a complaint of discrimination,
products under bilateral/multilateral to the Committee Meeting. Members of complete the USDA Program
arrangements by countries; the public may access or request copies Discrimination Complaint Form, which
(d) Developing guidelines and criteria of these documents (see ADDRESSES). may be accessed online at http://
with respect to format, declarations and Public Meeting www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
language of such official certificates as docs/2012/
countries may require with a view At the January 14, 2016 public Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or
towards international harmonization; meeting, draft U.S. positions on the write a letter signed by you or your
(e) Making recommendations for agenda items will be described and authorized representative.
information exchange in relation to food discussed, and attendees will have the Send your completed complaint form
import/export control; opportunity to pose questions and offer or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:
(f) Consulting as necessary with other comments. Written comments may be Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
international groups working on matters offered at the meeting or sent to Mary Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
related to food inspection and Stanley, U.S. Delegate for the 22nd Independence Avenue SW.,
certification systems; and Session of the CCFICS (see ADDRESSES). Washington, DC 20250–9410, Fax: (202)
(g) Considering other matters assigned Written comments should state that they 690–7442, Email:
to it by the Commission in relation to relate to activities of the 22nd Session program.intake@usda.gov.
food inspection and certification of CCFICS. Persons with disabilities who require
systems. Additional Public Notification alternative means for communication
The Committee is hosted by Australia. (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.),
Public awareness of all segments of
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Issues To Be Discussed at the Public should contact USDA’s TARGET Center
rulemaking and policy development is at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
Meeting important. Consequently, FSIS will
The following items on the Agenda announce this Federal Register Done at Washington, DC on December 9,
2015.
for the 22nd Session of CCFICS will be publication on-line through the FSIS
discussed during the public meeting: Web page located at: http:// Mary Frances Lowe,
• Activities of International www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
Organizations relevant to the work of FSIS also will make copies of this [FR Doc. 2015–31459 Filed 12–14–15; 8:45 am]
CCFICS publication available through the FSIS BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Dec 14, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM 15DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_77841/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:16:37
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:16:37
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of public meeting and request for comments. | |
| Dates | The public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 14, 2016 from 2-4 p.m. | |
| Contact | For Further Information About the 22nd Session Of CCFICS Contact: Mary Stanley, Director, Office of International Coordination, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2925, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250 | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 77601 |
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