SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. 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 Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) are:

(a) To draft provisions on labelling applicable to all foods;

(b) to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse draft specific provisions on labelling prepared by other Codex Committees drafting standards, codes of practice and guidelines;

(c) to study specific labelling problems assigned to it by the Commission; and,

(d) to study problems associated with the advertisement of food with particular reference to claims and misleading descriptions.

The CCFL is hosted by Canada. The United States attends CCFL as a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

The following items on the Agenda for the 45th Session of the CCFL will be discussed during the public meeting:

• Matters referred to the Committee by the CAC and Codex subsidiary bodies
• Matters of interest from FAO and WHO
• Consideration of labelling provisions in draft Codex standards
• Proposed draft Guidance for the Labelling of Non-Retail Containers
• Proposed draft Guidelines of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling
• internet sales/e-commerce
• Innovation—use of technology in food labelling
• Labelling of alcoholic beverages
• Criteria for the definition of “high in” nutritional descriptors for fats, sugars, and sodium
• Labelling of foods in joint presentation and multipack formats
• Future work and direction of CCFL
• Other Business

Public Meeting

At the April 9, 2019, 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 Douglas Balentine, U.S. Delegate for the 45th Session of the CCFL (see ADDRESSES ). Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 45th Session of the CCFL.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, the U.S. Codex Office will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the USDA web page located at: www.usda.gov/​codex/​, a link that also offers an email subscription service providing access to information related to Codex. Customers can add or delete their subscription 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 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).

84 FR 11485