83 FR 15785 - Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

Page Range		15785-15786
FR Document		2018-07586

The Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is sponsoring a public meeting on May 31, 2018. 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 41st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) taking place in Rome, Italy, between July 2 and 6, 2018. The Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 41st Session of the CAC and to address items on the agenda.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15785-15786]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07586]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Docket No. FSIS-2018-0008]


Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Codex Alimentarius 
Commission: Meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

AGENCY: Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA), 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is sponsoring a public meeting 
on May 31, 2018. 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 41st Session of 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) taking place in Rome, Italy, 
between July 2 and 6, 2018. The Administrator of the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service and the Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety 
recognize the importance of providing interested parties the 
opportunity to obtain background information on the 41st Session of the 
CAC and to address items on the agenda.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 31, 2018, 1:00 
p.m.-4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place at the USDA, Jamie L. 
Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 107-A, Washington, 
DC 20250.
    Documents related to the 41st Session of the CAC will be accessible 
via the internet at the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en/.
    The U.S. Delegate to the 41st Session of the CAC invites U.S. 
interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the 
following email address: uscodex@fsis.usda.gov.

Call-in-Number

    If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 41st 
Session of the CAC by conference call, please use the call-in-number 
and the 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 
uscodex@fsis.usda.gov by May 29, 2018. Early registration is encouraged 
as it will expedite entry into the building. The meeting will convene 
in a Federal building. Attendees should bring photo identification and 
plan for adequate time to pass through security screening systems. 
Attendees who are not able to attend the meeting in person, but wish to 
participate, may do so by phone.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    About the 41st session of the CAC contact: U.S. Codex Office, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: 
(202) 205-7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157, Email: uscodex@fsis.usda.gov.
    About the public meeting contact: Jasmine Curtis, U.S. Codex 
Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4865, Washington, DC 20250, 
Telephone: (202) 205-7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157, Email: 
Jasmine.Curtis@fsis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    CAC 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, the CAC 
seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in 
the food trade; promotes coordination of all food standards work 
undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental 
organizations; determines priorities and initiates and guides the 
preparation of draft standards through and with the aid of appropriate 
organizations; finalizes the standards elaborated and publishes them in 
a Codex Alimentarius (food code) either as regional or worldwide 
standards, together with international standards already finalized by 
other bodies, wherever this is practicable; and amends published 
standards, as appropriate, in the light of new developments.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

    The following items on the Agenda for the 41st Session of the CAC 
will be discussed during the public meeting:

 Report by the chairperson on the 74th and 75th Sessions of the 
Executive Committee
 Amendments to the Procedural Manual
 Final Adoption of Codex texts
 Adoption of Codex Texts at Step 5
 Revocation of Codex Texts
 Proposals for New Work
 Discontinuation of Work
 Amendments to Codex Standards and Related Texts
 Matters arising from the reports of the Commission, the 
Executive Committee and Subsidiary Bodies
 Committees working by correspondence and pilot for a Committee 
on Standards Advancement
 Regular Review of Codex Work Management: Report 2017-2018
 Codex Budgetary and Financial Matters: Report 2016-2017 and 
Progress 2018-2019
 Codex Budgetary and Financial Matters: Proposal 2020-2021

[[Page 15786]]

 FAO/WHO Scientific Support to Codex: activities, budgetary and 
financial matters
 Matters arising from FAO and WHO
 Report of the side event on FAO and WHO capacity development 
activities
 Report of the side event on the Codex Trust Fund (CTF2)
 Report of the discussion panels with International Government 
Organizations (IGOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
 Election of the chairperson and vice chairpersons
 Designation of countries responsible for appointing the 
chairpersons of Codex subsidiary bodies
 Any other business

    Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, 
or to be distributed, by the Secretariat before the meeting. Members of 
the public may access or request copies of these documents (see 
ADDRESSES).

Public Meeting

    At the May 31, 2018, 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 the U.S. Delegate for the 41st 
Session of the CAC (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that 
they relate to activities of the 41st Session of the CAC.

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: program.intake@usda.gov.
    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.
Mary Frances Lowe,
U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2018-07586 Filed 4-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices 15785

OMB Control Number: 0572–0136. is sponsoring a public meeting on May About the public meeting contact:
Summary of Collection: The Rural 31, 2018. The objective of the public Jasmine Curtis, U.S. Codex Office, 1400
Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act) (7 meeting is to provide information and Independence Avenue SW, Room 4865,
U.S.C. 901 et seq.) as amended in receive public comments on agenda Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
November 2000, to create new grant and items and draft United States (U.S.) (202) 205–7760, Fax: (202) 720–3157,
loan authority to assist rural positions to be discussed at the 41st Email: Jasmine.Curtis@fsis.usda.gov.
communities with extremely high Session of the Codex Alimentarius SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
energy costs (Pub. L. 106–472). The Commission (CAC) taking place in
amendment authorized the Secretary of Rome, Italy, between July 2 and 6, 2018. Background
the U.S. Department of Agriculture The Administrator of the Food Safety CAC was established in 1963 by two
through Rural Development to provide and Inspection Service and the Deputy United Nations organizations, the Food
competitive grants for energy Under Secretary for Food Safety and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
generation, transmission, or distribution recognize the importance of providing the World Health Organization (WHO).
facilities serving communities in which interested parties the opportunity to Through adoption of food standards,
the national average residential obtain background information on the codes of practice, and other guidelines
expenditure for home energy is at least 41st Session of the CAC and to address developed by its committees, and by
275 percent of the national average items on the agenda. promoting their adoption and
residential expenditure for home DATES: The public meeting is scheduled implementation by governments, the
energy. All applicants are required to for Thursday, May 31, 2018, 1:00 p.m.– CAC seeks to protect the health of
submit a project proposal containing the 4:00 p.m. consumers and ensure fair practices in
elements in the prescribed format. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will the food trade; promotes coordination of
Need and Use of the Information: take place at the USDA, Jamie L. all food standards work undertaken by
Information is collected by the Rural Whitten Building, 1400 Independence international governmental and non-
Utility Service from applicants to Avenue SW, Room 107–A, Washington, governmental organizations; determines
confirm that the eligibility requirements DC 20250. priorities and initiates and guides the
and the proposals are consistent with Documents related to the 41st Session preparation of draft standards through
the purposes set forth in the statute. of the CAC will be accessible via the and with the aid of appropriate
Various forms and progress reports are internet at the following address: http:// organizations; finalizes the standards
used to monitor compliance with grant www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings- elaborated and publishes them in a
agreements, track expenditures of reports/en/. Codex Alimentarius (food code) either
Federal funds and measure the success The U.S. Delegate to the 41st Session as regional or worldwide standards,
of the program. Without collecting the of the CAC invites U.S. interested together with international standards
listed information, USDA will not be parties to submit their comments already finalized by other bodies,
assured that the projects and electronically to the following email wherever this is practicable; and
communities served meet the statutory address: uscodex@fsis.usda.gov. amends published standards, as
requirements for eligibility or that the Call-in-Number appropriate, in the light of new
proposed projects will deliver the developments.
intended benefits. If you wish to participate in the
public meeting for the 41st Session of Issues To Be Discussed at the Public
Description of Respondents: Not-for-
the CAC by conference call, please use Meeting
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government. the call-in-number and the participant The following items on the Agenda
Number of Respondents: 100. code listed below: for the 41st Session of the CAC will be
Call-in-Number: 1–888–844–9904. discussed during the public meeting:
Frequency of Responses: The participant code will be posted
Recordkeeping: Reporting: On occasion. • Report by the chairperson on the 74th
on the web page below: http://
Total Burden Hours: 1,172. www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/ and 75th Sessions of the Executive
topics/international-affairs/us-codex- Committee
Ruth Brown,
• Amendments to the Procedural
Departmental Information Collection alimentarius/public-meetings.
Manual
Clearance Officer. • Final Adoption of Codex texts
Registration
[FR Doc. 2018–07561 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am]
Attendees may register to attend the • Adoption of Codex Texts at Step 5
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P • Revocation of Codex Texts
public meeting by emailing uscodex@
• Proposals for New Work
fsis.usda.gov by May 29, 2018. Early • Discontinuation of Work
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE registration is encouraged as it will • Amendments to Codex Standards and
expedite entry into the building. The Related Texts
[Docket No. FSIS–2018–0008] meeting will convene in a Federal • Matters arising from the reports of the
building. Attendees should bring photo Commission, the Executive
Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs;
identification and plan for adequate Committee and Subsidiary Bodies
Codex Alimentarius Commission:
Meeting of the Codex Alimentarius
time to pass through security screening • Committees working by
systems. Attendees who are not able to correspondence and pilot for a
Commission
attend the meeting in person, but wish Committee on Standards
to participate, may do so by phone.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

AGENCY: Office of Trade and Foreign Advancement
Agricultural Affairs, USDA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Regular Review of Codex Work
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and About the 41st session of the CAC Management: Report 2017–2018
request for comments. contact: U.S. Codex Office, 1400 • Codex Budgetary and Financial
Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, Matters: Report 2016–2017 and
SUMMARY: The Office of Trade and Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: Progress 2018–2019
Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA), (202) 205–7760, Fax: (202) 720–3157, • Codex Budgetary and Financial
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Email: uscodex@fsis.usda.gov. Matters: Proposal 2020–2021

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Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:14:39
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:14:39

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, May 31, 2018, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Contact		About the 41st session of the CAC contact: U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: (202) 205-7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157, Email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 15785