81 FR 88197 - National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 235 (December 7, 2016)

Page Range		88197-88198
FR Document		2016-29271

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). There are 15 vacancies. Advisory Committee members serve a two-year term, renewable for two consecutive terms. USDA is seeking nominees with scientific expertise in the fields of microbiology, epidemiology, food technology (food, clinical, and predictive), toxicology, risk assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics, and other related sciences. USDA is seeking nominations for NACMCF from persons in academia, industry, State governments, and the Federal Government, as well as all other interested persons with the required expertise. Please note that federally registered lobbyists cannot be considered for USDA advisory committee membership. USDA is also seeking nominations for one individual affiliated with a consumer group to serve on the NACMCF. This member will serve as a representative member to provide a consumer viewpoint to the committee. This member will not be required to have a scientific background and will not be subject to a conflict of interest review. Members can serve on only one USDA advisory committee at a time. All nominees will undergo a USDA background check. With the exception of the consumer representative member, any member who is not a Federal government employee will be appointed to serve as a non-compensated special government employee (SGE). SGEs will be subject to appropriate conflict of interest statutes and standards of ethical conduct. Nominations for membership on the NACMCF must be addressed to the Secretary of USDA and accompanied by a cover letter addressing the nomination, a resume or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background Information form AD-755 available online at: https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-755. A person may self-nominate, or a nomination can be made on behalf of someone else. The resume or curriculum vitae must be limited to five one-sided pages and should include educational background, expertise, and a list of select publications, if available, that confirm the nominee's expertise for this work. For submissions received that are more than five one- sided pages in length, only the first five pages will be reviewed.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88197-88198]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29271]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 88197]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2016-0042]


National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice soliciting nominations for membership on the National 
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting 
nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). There are 15 vacancies. 
Advisory Committee members serve a two-year term, renewable for two 
consecutive terms.
    USDA is seeking nominees with scientific expertise in the fields of 
microbiology, epidemiology, food technology (food, clinical, and 
predictive), toxicology, risk assessment, infectious disease, 
biostatistics, and other related sciences. USDA is seeking nominations 
for NACMCF from persons in academia, industry, State governments, and 
the Federal Government, as well as all other interested persons with 
the required expertise. Please note that federally registered lobbyists 
cannot be considered for USDA advisory committee membership.
    USDA is also seeking nominations for one individual affiliated with 
a consumer group to serve on the NACMCF. This member will serve as a 
representative member to provide a consumer viewpoint to the committee. 
This member will not be required to have a scientific background and 
will not be subject to a conflict of interest review.
    Members can serve on only one USDA advisory committee at a time. 
All nominees will undergo a USDA background check.
    With the exception of the consumer representative member, any 
member who is not a Federal government employee will be appointed to 
serve as a non-compensated special government employee (SGE). SGEs will 
be subject to appropriate conflict of interest statutes and standards 
of ethical conduct.
    Nominations for membership on the NACMCF must be addressed to the 
Secretary of USDA and accompanied by a cover letter addressing the 
nomination, a resume or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information form AD-755 available 
online at: https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-755. A person may 
self-nominate, or a nomination can be made on behalf of someone else. 
The resume or curriculum vitae must be limited to five one-sided pages 
and should include educational background, expertise, and a list of 
select publications, if available, that confirm the nominee's expertise 
for this work. For submissions received that are more than five one-
sided pages in length, only the first five pages will be reviewed.

DATES: All materials must be received by January 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages should be sent via email to 
[email protected] and mailed to: Tom Vilsack, Secretary, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250, Attn: FSIS\Office of Public Health 
Science\National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for 
Foods (Karen Thomas-Sharp).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, by telephone at 202-690-6620 or by email 
[email protected].
    The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) invites interested 
persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by 
either of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web 
site (http://www.regulations.gov/) provides the ability to type short 
comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a 
file for lengthier comments. Follow the online instructions at that 
site for submitting comments. Mail, including CD-ROMS and hand or 
courier delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS Docket Room, 
Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-
3700 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or email must include the 
Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0042. Comments received in 
response to this docket will be made available for public inspection 
and posted without change, including any personal information, to 
http://www.regulations.gov/.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday. All comments submitted in response to this notice, as 
well as background information used by FSIS in developing this 
document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket 
Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The NACMCF was established in March 1988, in response to a 
recommendation in 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 current charter for the NACMCF and other information about the 
Committee are available to the public for viewing on the FSIS Web site 
at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmcf.
    The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the 
safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. For example, one of 
the most recent efforts of the Committee is to provide the best 
scientific information available on Shiga Toxin producing E. coli, 
including providing recommendations on optimal detection and 
identification methodologies.
    Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture after consultation with the Secretary of

[[Page 88198]]

Health and Human Services to ensure that recommendations made by the 
Committee take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by 
the Department.
    The full Committee expects to meet at least once a year by 
teleconference or in-person, and the meetings will be announced in the 
Federal Register. The subcommittees will meet as deemed necessary by 
the chairperson through working group meetings in an open public forum. 
Subcommittees also may meet through teleconference or by computer-based 
conferencing (Webinars). Subcommittees may invite technical experts to 
present information for consideration by the subcommittee. The 
subcommittee meetings will not be announced in the Federal Register. 
FSIS will announce the agenda and subcommittee working group meetings 
through the Constituent Update, available online at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/cu.
    NACMCF holds subcommittee meetings in order to accomplish the work 
of NACMCF; all subcommittee work is reviewed and approved during a 
public meeting of the full Committee, as announced in the Federal 
Register. All data and records available to the full Committee are 
expected to be available to the public when the full Committee reviews 
and approves the work of the subcommittee. Advisory Committee members 
are expected to attend all in-person meetings during the two-year term 
to ensure the smooth functioning of the advisory committee. However, on 
rare occasions, attendance through teleconferencing may be permitted.
    Members must be prepared to work outside of scheduled Committee and 
subcommittee meetings and may be required to assist in document 
preparation. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis; however, 
travel expenses and per diem reimbursement are available.

Regarding Nominees Who Are Selected

    All SGE and Federal government employee nominees who are selected 
must complete the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) 450 Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Report before rendering any advice or before their 
first meeting. With the exception of the consumer representative 
committee member, all committee members will be reviewed pursuant to 18 
U.S.C. 208 for conflicts of interest relating to specific NACMCF work 
charges, and financial disclosure updates will be required annually. 
Members subject to financial disclosure must report any changes in 
financial holdings requiring additional disclosure. OGE 450 forms are 
available on-line at: https://www2.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/Confidential%20Financial%20Disclosure.

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: December 1, 2016.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-29271 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

88197

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 81, No. 235

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER nominees will undergo a USDA and hand or courier delivered items:
contains documents other than rules or background check. Send to Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS
proposed rules that are applicable to the With the exception of the consumer Docket Room, Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, representative member, any member Street SW., Room 8–163A, Washington,
committee meetings, agency decisions and who is not a Federal government DC 20250–3700 between 8:30 a.m. and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of employee will be appointed to serve as
petitions and applications and agency
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
statements of organization and functions are
a non-compensated special government Instructions: All items submitted by
examples of documents appearing in this employee (SGE). SGEs will be subject to mail or email must include the Agency
section. appropriate conflict of interest statutes name and docket number FSIS–2016–
and standards of ethical conduct. 0042. Comments received in response to
Nominations for membership on the this docket will be made available for
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NACMCF must be addressed to the public inspection and posted without
Secretary of USDA and accompanied by change, including any personal
Food Safety and Inspection Service a cover letter addressing the information, to http://
nomination, a resume or curriculum www.regulations.gov/.
[Docket No. FSIS–2016–0042]
vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Docket: For access to background
National Advisory Committee on Committee Membership Background documents or comments received, go to
Microbiological Criteria for Foods Information form AD–755 available the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza
online at: https://www.ocio.usda.gov/ 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8–164,
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection document/ad-755. A person may self- Washington, DC 20250–3700 between
Service, USDA. nominate, or a nomination can be made 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
ACTION: Notice soliciting nominations on behalf of someone else. The resume through Friday. All comments
for membership on the National or curriculum vitae must be limited to submitted in response to this notice, as
Advisory Committee on Microbiological five one-sided pages and should include well as background information used by
Criteria for Foods. educational background, expertise, and FSIS in developing this document, will
a list of select publications, if available, be available for public inspection in the
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
that confirm the nominee’s expertise for FSIS Docket Room at the address listed
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting
this work. For submissions received that above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
nominations for membership on the
are more than five one-sided pages in Monday through Friday.
National Advisory Committee on
length, only the first five pages will be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Microbiological Criteria for Foods
reviewed.
(NACMCF). There are 15 vacancies. Background
DATES: All materials must be received
Advisory Committee members serve a
two-year term, renewable for two by January 6, 2017. The NACMCF was established in
consecutive terms. ADDRESSES: Nomination packages March 1988, in response to a
USDA is seeking nominees with should be sent via email to recommendation in a 1985 report of the
scientific expertise in the fields of karen.thomas-sharp@fsis.usda.gov and National Academy of Sciences
microbiology, epidemiology, food mailed to: Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Committee on Food Protection,
technology (food, clinical, and Department of Agriculture, 1400 Subcommittee on Microbiological
predictive), toxicology, risk assessment, Independence Avenue SW., Criteria, ‘‘An Evaluation of the Role of
infectious disease, biostatistics, and Washington, DC 20250, Attn: Microbiological Criteria for Foods.’’ The
other related sciences. USDA is seeking FSIS\Office of Public Health current charter for the NACMCF and
nominations for NACMCF from persons Science\National Advisory Committee other information about the Committee
in academia, industry, State on Microbiological Criteria for Foods are available to the public for viewing
governments, and the Federal (Karen Thomas-Sharp). on the FSIS Web site at: http://
Government, as well as all other FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmcf.
interested persons with the required Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory The Committee provides scientific
expertise. Please note that federally Committee Specialist, by telephone at advice and recommendations to the
registered lobbyists cannot be 202–690–6620 or by email Secretary of Agriculture and the
considered for USDA advisory karen.thomas-sharp@fsis.usda.gov. Secretary of Health and Human Services
committee membership. The Food Safety and Inspection concerning the development of
USDA is also seeking nominations for Service (FSIS) invites interested persons microbiological criteria by which the
one individual affiliated with a to submit comments on this notice. safety and wholesomeness of food can
consumer group to serve on the Comments may be submitted by either be assessed. For example, one of the
NACMCF. This member will serve as a of the following methods: Federal most recent efforts of the Committee is
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

representative member to provide a eRulemaking Portal: This Web site to provide the best scientific
consumer viewpoint to the committee. (http://www.regulations.gov/) provides information available on Shiga Toxin
This member will not be required to the ability to type short comments producing E. coli, including providing
have a scientific background and will directly into the comment field on this recommendations on optimal detection
not be subject to a conflict of interest Web page or attach a file for lengthier and identification methodologies.
review. comments. Follow the online Appointments to the Committee will
Members can serve on only one USDA instructions at that site for submitting be made by the Secretary of Agriculture
advisory committee at a time. All comments. Mail, including CD–ROMS after consultation with the Secretary of

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Document Created: 2016-12-07 05:31:43
Document Modified: 2016-12-07 05:31:43

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 soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.
Dates		All materials must be received by January 6, 2017.
Contact		Ms. Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory Committee Specialist, by telephone at 202-690-6620 or by email [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 88197

81 FR 88197 - National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFood Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 235 (December 7, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service