SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Codex Alimentarius Commission 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 Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) are:

(a) to establish maximum limits for pesticide residues in specific food items or in groups of food;

(b) to establish maximum limits for pesticide residues in certain animal feeding stuffs moving in international trade where this is justified for reasons of protection of human health;

(c) to prepare priority lists of pesticides for evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR);

(d) to consider methods of sampling and analysis for the determination of pesticide residues in food and feed;

(e) to consider other matters in relation to the safety of food and feed containing pesticide residues; and,

(f) to establish maximum limits for environmental and industrial contaminants showing chemical or other similarity to pesticides, in specific food items or groups of food.

The CCPR is hosted by China. The United States attends the CCPR as a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

The following items from the forthcoming Agenda for the 55th Session of the CCPR will be discussed during the public meeting:

• Adoption of the Agenda
• Appointment of Rapporteurs
• Matters referred to CCPR by CAC and/or other subsidiary bodies
• Matters of interest arising from FAO and WHO
• Matters of interest arising from other international organizations
• Report on items of general consideration arising from the 2023 JMPR regular meeting
• Report on responses to specific concerns raised by CCPR arising from the 2023 JMPR regular meeting
• Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food and feed
• Guidelines for monitoring the purity and stability of reference materials and related stock solutions of pesticides during prolonged storage
• Management of unsupported compounds without public health concern scheduled for periodic review
• National registrations of pesticides
• Establishment of Codex Schedules and Priority Lists of Pesticides for Evaluation/Re-Evaluation by JMPR
• Enhancement of the Operational Procedures of CCPR and JMPR
• Coordination of work between CCPR and the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF): Joint CCPR/CCRVDF Working Group on Compounds for Dual Use—Status of work
• Analysis of previous decisions by CCPR to establish MRLs for tomato and pepper to establish corresponding MRLs in eggplant
• Other Business

Public Meeting

At the May 7, 2024, 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 Mr. Aaron Niman, U.S. Delegate to the 55th Session of the CCPR, at niman.aaron@epa.gov. Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 55th Session of the CCPR.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, the U.S. ( printed page 25231) Codex Office will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the USDA web page located at: https://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 https://www.usda.gov/​oascr/​filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, 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).

89 FR 25230