[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 9967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5113]
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Notices
Federal Register
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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. 64, No. 39 / Monday, March 1, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 9967]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-008N]
Beef Products Contaminated With Escherichia coli 0157:H7; Public
Meeting
Agency
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
Action
Notice of public meeting; request for comment.
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Summary
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a public meeting on March 8, 1999, to discuss the policies addressed in its January 19, 1999. Federal Register notice, Beef Products Contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7. The purpose of the meeting is to consider policy and regulatory changes to ensure that consumers are protected against meat products adulterated with E. coli 0157:H7. The Agency also solicits information on non-intact beef products, including ground beef, injected beef, and trimmings, for use in the Agency's risk assessment on E. coli 0157: H7 in beef products.
Dates
The meeting will be held March 8, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Written comments must be received by March 22, 1999.
Addresses
The meeting will be held at the Hotel Washington, 515 15th Street, NW, Washington DC. To register for the meeting, contact Ms. Shiela Johnson by telephone at (202) 501-7305 or (202) 501-7138 or by FAX at (202) 501-7642. If a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is necessary, contact Ms. Johnson at the above numbers by March 4, 1999. If you are planning to present an oral comment at the meeting, please submit one original and two copies of the prepared comment to the FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket No. 99-008N, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Send one orignial and two copies of all other comments to the Docket Clerk at the address listed above. All comments received in response to this notice will be considered part of the public record and will be available for viewing in the Docket Room between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For Further Information Contact
Daniel Engeljohn, Ph.D. Director, Regulations Development and Analysis Division, Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 112 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone number (202) 720-5627, fax number (202 690-0486.
Supplementary Information
On January 19, 1999, FSIS published the notice ``Beef Products Contaminated with Escherichia coli 0157:H7'' in the Federal Register (64 FR 2803). This notice contained FSIS' policy regarding beef products, including raw grown beef and non-intact beef products, contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. The notice also afforded the public an opportunity to submit comments and recommendations regarding the Agency's policy and any regulatory requirements that might be appropriate to prevent the distribution of beef products adulterated with E. coli 0157:H7. In addition to the opportunities for comment provided in the notice, FSIS has decided to hold a public meeting on March 8, 1999. The meeting will provide the public an opportunity to comment and discuss the policy announced in the January 19, 1999, notice and the public health risks associated with beef products contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. Also, participants will be able to comment on FSIS's intention to expand its risk assessment of E. coli 0157:H7, which was announced in the Federal Register on August 18, 1998, (63 FR 44232) to include all non-intact beef products. The Agency intends to make available a set of questions and answers that reflect its current thinking about its E. coli 0157:H7 policy. The Agency will announce the availability of this document in its Constituent Alert.
Done at Washington, DC, on February 25, 1999. Thomas J. Billy, Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-5113 Filed 2-25-99; 1:45 pm] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-M