AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking that appeared in the Federal Register of December 24, 2013 (78 FR 78014), entitled “Focused Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration” and its information collection provisions. We are taking this action in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons an opportunity to fully review and analyze the approaches FDA has proposed for the rule and its potential impact as well as to consider the complexity and if the proposal has the flexibility to address the many types of food operations that will be affected.

We also are taking this action to keep the comment period for the information collection provisions associated with the rule consistent with the comment period for the proposed rule.

DATES:

FDA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule and its information collection provisions. Submit either electronic or written comments on the proposed rule and the information collection by June 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FDA-2013-N-1425 and/or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) 0910-AG63, by any of the following methods, except that comments on information collection issues under the PRA must be submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (see the “Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995” section of this document).

Electronic Submissions

Submit electronic comments in the following way:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: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-2013-N-1425, and RIN 0910-AG63 for this rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change to 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. ( printed page 16252)

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to 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:

With regard to the proposed rule: Ryan Newkirk, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-2428.

With regard to the information collection: Domini Bean, Office of Information Management, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., PI50-400T, Rockville, MD 20850, Domini.Bean@fda.hhs.gov.