[Federal Register: June 4, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 30743-30753]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04jn07-13]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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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[[Page 30743]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[FDMS Docket No. FSIS-2007-0006]
International Standard-Setting Activities
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the sanitary and
phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade
Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act, Public Law 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809. This notice also provides a
list of other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity
standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts. This
notice, which covers the time periods from June 1, 2006, to May 31,
2007, and June 1, 2007, to May 31, 2008, seeks comments on standards
under consideration and recommendations for new standards.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. FSIS prefers to
receive comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and, in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box,
select ``Food Safety and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down
menu, and then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select
FDMS Docket Number FSIS-2007-0006 to submit or view public comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
After the close of the comment period, the docket can be viewed using
the ``Advanced Search'' function in Regulations.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand- or
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW.,
Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250.
All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number
FSIS-2007-0006. Please state that your comments refer to Codex and, if
your comments relate to specific Codex committees, please identify
those committees in your comments and submit a copy of your comments to
the delegate from that particular committee. All comments submitted in
response to this proposal will be posted to the regulations.gov Web
site. The comments also will be available for public inspection in the
FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday. The comments also will be posted on the
Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2007_Notices_Index/index.asp
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Edward Scarbrough, PhD, United
States Manager for Codex, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the
Under Secretary for Food Safety, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 205-
7760. For information pertaining to particular committees, the delegate
of that committee may be contacted. (A complete list of U.S. delegates
and alternate delegates can be found in Attachment 2 to this notice.)
Documents pertaining to Codex are accessible via the World Wide Web at
the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp The U.S. Codex Office also maintains a Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Codex_Alimentarius/index.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1,
1995, as the common international institutional framework for the
conduct of trade relations among its members in matters related to the
Uruguay Round Trade Agreements. The WTO is the successor organization
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). U.S. membership
in the WTO was approved and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act was signed
into law by the President on December 8, 1994. The Uruguay Round
Agreements became effective, with respect to the United States, on
January 1, 1995. Pursuant to section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of
1979, as amended, the President is required to designate an agency to
be ``responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of each international
standard-setting organization.'' The main organizations are Codex, the
World Organisation for Animal Health, and the International Plant
Protection Convention. The President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780
of March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15845), designated the U.S. Department of
Agriculture as the agency responsible for informing the public of SPS
standard-setting activities of each international standard-setting
organization. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to the
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the
responsibility to inform the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of Codex. The FSIS Administrator has, in turn, assigned the
responsibility for informing the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of Codex to the U.S. Codex Office, FSIS.
Codex was created in 1962 by two U.N. organizations, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Codex is the principal international organization for encouraging fair
international trade in food and protecting the health and economic
interests of consumers. 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, ensure fair trade practices in the
food trade, and promote coordination of food standards work undertaken
by international governmental and non-governmental organizations. In
the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA);
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human
[[Page 30744]]
Services (HHS); and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manage
and carry out U.S. Codex activities.
As the agency responsible for informing the public of the SPS
standard-setting activities of Codex, FSIS publishes this notice in the
Federal Register annually. Attachment 1 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Activities of Codex) sets forth the following information:
1. the SPS standards under consideration or planned for
consideration; and
2. for each SPS standard specified:
a. a description of the consideration or planned consideration
of the standard;
b. whether the United States is participating or plans to
participate in the consideration of the standard;
c. the agenda for United States participation, if any; and
d. the agency responsible for representing the United States
with respect to the standard.
To obtain copies of those standards listed in Attachment 1 that are
under consideration by Codex, please contact the Codex delegate or the
U.S. Codex Office. This notice also solicits public comment on those
standards that are currently under consideration or planned for
consideration and recommendations for new standards. The delegate, in
conjunction with the responsible agency, will take the comments
received into account in participating in the consideration of the
standards and in proposing matters to be considered by Codex.
The United States delegate will facilitate public participation in
the United States Government's activities relating to Codex
Alimentarius. The United States delegate will maintain a list of
individuals, groups, and organizations that have expressed an interest
in the activities of the Codex committees and will disseminate
information regarding United States delegation activities to interested
parties. This information will include the status of each agenda item;
the United States Government's position or preliminary position on the
agenda items; and the time and place of planning meetings and
debriefing meetings following Codex committee sessions. In addition,
the U.S. Codex Office makes much of the same information available
through its Web page, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Codex_Alimentarius/index.asp.
Please visit the web page or
notify the appropriate U.S. delegate or the Office of U.S. Codex
Alimentarius, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, if you would like to access or
receive information about specific committees.
The information provided in Attachment 1 describes the status of
Codex standard-setting activities by the Codex Committees for the time
periods from June 1, 2006, to May 31, 2007, and June 1, 2007, to May
31, 2008. Attachment 2 provides the list of U.S. Codex Officials
(includes U.S. delegates and alternate delegates). A list of
forthcoming Codex sessions may be found at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp?lang=en
.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2007_Notices_Index/index.asp
.
The Regulations.gov Web site is the central online rulemaking
portal of the United States government. It is being offered as a public
service to increase participation in the Federal government's
regulatory activities. FSIS participates in Regulations.gov and will
accept comments on documents published on the site. The site allows
visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for rulemakings
that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick link to a
comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and submit
them to FSIS. The Web site is located at http://www.regulations.gov.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv,
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and
farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals,
scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to
be included. The update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through
Listserv and the web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a
much broader, more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail 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/news_and_events/email_subscription/.
Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to
password protect their account.
Done at Washington, DC on: May 23, 2007.
F. Edward Scarbrough,
United States Manager for Codex.
Attachment 1
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex Alimentarius Commission
and Executive Committee
The Codex Alimentarius Commission will hold its Thirtieth Session
July 2-7, 2007, in Rome, Italy. At that time, it will consider
procedural matters, and the standards, codes of practice, and related
matters brought to its attention by the general subject committees,
commodity committees, ad hoc Task Forces and member delegations. It
will also consider options to implement recommendations from the review
of Codex committee structure and mandates of Codex committees and task
forces, as well as budgetary and strategic planning issues. At this
Session, the Commission will elect a Chair and three Vice Chairs.
Prior to the Commission meeting, the Executive Committee will have
met at its Fifty-ninth Session on June 26-30, 2007. It is composed of
the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, and seven members elected from the
Commission, one from each of the following geographic regions: Africa,
Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, North
America, and South-West Pacific. Additionally, regional coordinators
from the six regional committees serve as members of the Executive
Committee. It will consider the Codex Strategic Plan 2008-1013; review
the Codex committee structure and mandate of Codex committees and task
forces; review matters arising from reports of Codex Committees,
proposals for new work, and standards management issues; and review the
Trust Fund for the Participation of Developing Countries and Countries
in Transition in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
determines priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary
drugs in foods
[[Page 30745]]
and recommends Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs. A
veterinary drug is defined as any substance applied or administered to
a food producing animal, such as meat or dairy animals, poultry, fish
or bees, for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic purposes or for
modification of physiological functions or behavior.
A Codex Maximum Limit for Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD) is the maximum
concentration of residue resulting from the use of a veterinary drug
(expressed in mg/kg or ug/kg on a fresh weight basis) that is adopted
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be permitted or recognized as
acceptable in or on a food. An MRLVD is based on the Acceptable Daily
Intake (ADI) and indicates the amount of residue in food that is
considered to be without appreciable toxicological hazard. An MRLVD
also takes into account other relevant public health risks as well as
food technological aspects.
When establishing an MRLVD, consideration is also given to residues
that occur in food of plant origin and/or the environment. Furthermore,
the MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the
use of veterinary drugs and to the extent that practical analytical
methods are available.
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): An estimate by the Joint FAO/WHO
Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the amount of a
veterinary drug, expressed on a body weight basis, that can be ingested
daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk (standard man =
60 kg).
The Committee will meet in the United States on September 3-7,
2007. The Committee will continue work on the following:
The Committee worked on:
Draft MRLs for Flumequine, Melengestrol acetate, Colistin,
Ractopamine, Erithromycin, Triclabendazole.
Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Design and
Implementation of National Regulatory Food Safety Assurance Programmes
Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals.
Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on
Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods.
Risk Assessment Policy for the Setting of MRLs in Food.
Priority List of Veterinary Drugs Requiring Evaluation or
Reevaluation.
Compendium of Methods of Analysis Identified as Suitable
to Support Codex MRLs.
Discussion Paper on Risk Management Topics and Options for
the CCRVDF.
Report of the Working Group on Residues of Veterinary
Drugs without ADI/MRL.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) was established
by the 29th Session of the Commission when it decided to split the
former Codex Committee on Additives and Contaminants into two
committees. The CCCF establishes or endorses permitted maximum levels
for contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed,
prepares priority lists of contaminants and naturally occurring
toxicants for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on
Food Additives (JECFA), considers methods of analysis and sampling for
the determination of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in
food and feed, considers and elaborates standards or codes of practice
for related subjects, and considers other matters assigned to it by the
Commission in relation to contaminants and naturally occurring
toxicants in food and feed. The Committee held its first session in
Beijing, China, on April 16-20, 2007. The relevant document is ALINORM
07/30/41. The following items will be considered by the 30th Session of
the Commission on July 2-7, 2007.
To be considered at Step 8:
Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Tin in Canned Foods
(other than beverages) and in Canned Beverages.
To be considered at Step 5/8:
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and
Control of Ochratoxin A Contamination in Wine.
To be considered at Step 5:
Proposed Draft Maximum Level for 3-MCPD in Liquid
Condiments Containing Acid-HVP (excluding naturally fermented soya
sauce).
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Reduction of
Chloropropanols During the Production of Acid-Hydrolysed Vegetable
Proteins (HVPs) and Products That Contain Acid-HVPs.
To be considered for New Work:
Elaboration of a Code of Practice on the Prevention and
Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination in Dried Figs.
The Committee is continuing to work on:
Consideration of the Codex General Standard for
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods.
Proposed Draft Levels for Total Aflatoxins in Almonds,
Hazelnuts and Pistachios ``For further processing'' and ``Ready-to-
eat''.
Proposed Draft Sampling Plan for Aflatoxin Contamination
in Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Hazelnuts and Pistachios.
Discussion Paper on Maximum Levels for Total Aflatoxins in
``Ready-to-eat'' Almonds, Hazelnuts and Pistachios.
Discussion Paper on Aflatoxin Contamination in Brazil
Nuts.
Discussion Paper on Ochratoxin A in Coffee.
Discussion Paper on Ochratoxin A in Cocoa.
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Reduction of
Acrylamide in Food.
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Reduction of
Contamination of Foods with PAH from Smoking and Direct Drying.
General Issues:
Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring
Toxicants Proposed for Evaluation by JECFA.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Additives
The Codex Committee on Food Additives was re-established by the
29th Session of the Commission, which split the former Codex Committee
on Additives and Contaminants into two committees. The Committee is to
establish or endorse permitted maximum levels for individual food
additives, prepare a priority list of food additives for risk
assessment by JECFA, assign functional classes to individual food
additives, recommend specifications of identity and purity for food
additives for adoption by the Commission, consider methods of analysis
for the determination of additives in food, and to consider and
elaborate standard codes for related subjects such as the labeling of
food additives when sold as such. The Committee met in Beijing, China,
on April 24-28, 2007. The relevant document is ALINORM 7/30/12. The
following items will be considered by the 30th Session of the
Commission in July 2007.
The Committee worked on:
Revision to the Procedural Manual: Terms of Reference.
Revision to the Procedural Manual: Risk Analysis
Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and
Contaminants.
Revision to the Procedural Manual: Format for Codex
Commodity Standards.
Revision to the Procedural Manual: Relations between
Commodity
[[Page 30746]]
Committees and General Committees: Food Additives.
Endorsement and/or Revision of Maximum Levels for Food
Additives and Processing Aids in Codex Standards.
Inclusion of Food Additive Provisions of Commodity
Standards into the Codex General Standard for Food Additives.
General Standard for Food Additives: Draft Food Additive
Provisions (in Tables 1, 2 and 3).
Revisions to the General Standard for Food Additives' Food
Category System: Project Document.
Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings.
Inventory of Processing Aids.
International Numbering System and Harmonization of Terms
Used by Codex and JECFA.
Revision of the Class Names and International Numbering
System for Food Additives.
Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food
Additives.
Priority List of Food Additives Proposed for Evaluation by
JECFA.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues recommends to the Codex
Alimentarius Commission establishment of maximum limits for pesticide
residues for specific food items or in groups of food. A Codex Maximum
Residue Limit for Pesticide (MRLP) is the maximum concentration of a
pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on food
commodities and animal feeds. Foods derived from commodities that
comply with the respective MRLPs are intended to be toxicologically
acceptable, that is, consideration of the various dietary residue
intake estimates and determinations both at the national and
international level in comparison with the ADI*, should indicate that
foods complying with Codex MRLPs are safe for human consumption.
Codex MRLPs are primarily intended to apply in international trade
and are derived from reviews conducted by the Joint Meeting on
Pesticide Residues (JMPR).
(a) Review of residue data from supervised trials and supervised
uses including those reflecting national good agricultural practices
(GAP). Data from supervised trials conducted at the highest nationally
recommended, authorized, or registered uses are included in the review.
In order to accommodate variations in national pest control
requirements, Codex MRLPs take into account the higher levels shown to
arise in such supervised trials, which are considered to represent
effective pest control practices.
(b) Toxicological assessments of the pesticide and its residue.
The following items will be considered by the Commission at its
30th Session in July 2007. The relevant document is ALINORM 07/30/24.
To be considered at Step 8:
Draft and Draft Revised Maximum Residue Limits.
To be considered at Step \5/8\:
Proposed Draft Maximum Residue Limits.
To be considered at Step 5:
Proposed Draft and Proposed Draft Revised Maximum Residue
Limits.
To be considered for Revocation:
Codex CLX-Ds.
To be considered for New Work:
Priority List of Pesticides for review by JMPR.
The committee is continuing work on:
Draft and Proposed Draft MRLs.
Revision of the List of Recommended Methods on Analysis
for Pesticide Residues.
Revision of the Codex Priority List of Pesticides for
review by JMPR.
Discussion paper on the how Codex MRLs are used at the
national level.
Discussion paper on the establishment of MRLs for
Processed or Ready-to-Eat Foods.
Extended Revision of the Codex Classification of foods and
animal feeds.
*Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of a chemical is the daily intake
which, during an entire lifetime, appears to be without appreciable
risk to the health of the consumer on the basis of all the known facts
at the time of the evaluation of the chemical by the Joint FAO/WHO
Meeting on Pesticide Residues. It is expressed in milligrams of the
chemical per kilogram of body weight.
Responsible Agencies: EPA; USDA/AMS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling:
(a) Defines the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis
and Sampling;
(b) Serves as a coordinating body for Codex with other
international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and
quality assurance systems for laboratories;
(c) Specifies, on the basis of final recommendations submitted to
it by the other bodies referred to in (b) above, Reference Methods of
Analysis and Sampling appropriate to Codex Standards which are
generally applicable to a number of foods;
(d) Considers, amends, if necessary, and endorses, as appropriate,
methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity)
Committees, except that methods of analysis and sampling for residues
of pesticides or veterinary drugs in food, the assessment of
microbiological quality and safety in food, and the assessment of
specifications for food additives do not fall within the terms of
reference of this Committee;
(e) Elaborates sampling plans and procedures, as may be required;
(f) Considers specific sampling and analysis problems submitted to
it by the Commission or any of its Committees; and
(g) Defines procedures, protocols, guidelines or related texts for
the assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as quality
assurance systems for laboratories.
The 28th Session of the Committee met in Budapest, Hungary, on
March 5-9, 2007. The relevant document is ALINORM 07/30/23. For
endorsement at the 30th Commission in 2007:
Proposed Amendment to the Principles for the Establishment
of Codex Sampling Procedures (Procedural Manual).
Endorsement of methods of analysis in Draft Standards and
existing standards.
Reference to IUPA/ISO/AOAC Protocols (amendment to
references).
The Committee will continue to work on:
Draft Guidelines for Evaluating Acceptable Methods of
Analysis.
Draft Guidelines for Settling of Disputes on Analytical
(Test) Results.
Proposed Draft Guideline on Analytical Terminology.
Conversion of methods for trace elements into criteria.
Criteria for methods of analysis for foods derived from
biotechnology.
Guidance on measurement uncertainty and uncertainty of
sampling.
Discussion paper on role and terms of reference of CCMAS.
Discussion paper on the reliability of analytical data.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/GIPSA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
Systems
The Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and
Certification
[[Page 30747]]
Systems is charged with developing principles and guidelines for food
import and export inspection and certification systems to protect
consumers and to facilitate trade. Additionally, the Committee develops
principles and guidelines for the application of measures by competent
authorities to provide assurance that foods comply with essential
requirements, especially statutory health requirements. This
encompasses work on equivalence of food inspection systems, including
equivalence agreements, processes and procedures to ensure that
sanitary measures are implemented; guidelines on food import control
systems; and guidelines on food product certification and information
exchange. The development of guidelines for the appropriate utilization
of quality assurance systems to ensure that foodstuffs conform to
requirements and to facilitate trade also are included in the
Committee's terms of reference. The Committee met November 6-10, 2006.
The reference document is ALINORM 07/30/30. The following will be
considered for adoption by the Commission at its 30th Session in July
2007.
To be considered at step \5/8\:
Proposed Draft Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate
Formats and the Design, Production, Issuance and use of Certificates.
The committee is continuing work on:
Proposed Draft Appendix to the Guidelines on the Judgment
of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and
Certification.
Discussion paper on the reply to the question raised by
the 22nd Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles regarding
the revision of the Codex Code of Ethics for International Trade of
Foods.
Discussion Paper on the consistency of the draft Model
Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products with the proposed draft
Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate Formats and the Design,
Production, Issuance and Use of Certificates.
Discussion Paper identifying areas for guidance for
national food inspection systems.
Discussion Paper on the development of Guidelines for the
Conduct of Foreign Audit Team Inspections.
Discussion Paper on the need of guidance on traceability/
product tracing.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on General Principles
The Codex Committee on General Principles deals with procedure and
general matters as are referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission. The 24th Session was held on April 2-6, 2006, in Paris,
France. The relevant document is ALINORM 07/30/33. Matters to be
considered for adoption by the 29th Commission in July 2007:
Proposed Draft Working Principles for Risk Analysis for
Food Safety (Guidance to National Governments) for adoption at Step \5/
8\.
Amendments to the Codex Procedural Manual clarifying the
roles of Members elected to the Codex Executive Committee on a
geographic basis and Regional Coordinators as members of the Executive
Committee.
Amendments to the Codex Procedural Manual dealing with the
revision and amendment of Codex standards.
Amendments to the General Principles of the Codex
Alimentarius.
Amendments to the Principles Concerning the Participation
of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the Work of Codex.
Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Committee on
Pesticide Residues for inclusion in the Procedural Manual.
Risk Management Methodologies, including Risk Assessment
Policies in the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in
Foods for inclusion in the Procedural Manual.
Amendment to the Principles for the Establishment or
Selection of Codex Sampling Procedures (Codex Procedural Manual).
Procedure for Consideration of the Entry and Review of
Food Additive Provisions in the General Standard for Food Additives for
inclusion in the Procedural Manual.
The Committee continued work on:
Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food (returned
to Step 3).
Consideration of the structure, content and presentation
of the Procedural Manual.
New definitions of risk analysis terms related to food
safety.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Labelling
The Codex Committee on Food Labelling is responsible for drafting
provisions on labelling issues assigned by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission. The reference document is ALINORM 07/30/22. The Committee
held its 35th Session in Ottawa, Canada, on April 30-May 4, 2007. It
considered the following items:
Matters Referred by FAO and WHO: Draft Action Plan for
Implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and
Health.
Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and
Marketing of Organically Produced Foods Proposed Revised Sections:
Annex 2--Table 3 (Other substances); Table 1 (Natural Sodium Nitrate).
Draft Amendment to the General Standard (Draft
Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods obtained through certain
techniques of GM/GE): Definitions.
Report of the Working Group on Labelling of Foods and Food
Ingredients Obtained through Certain Techniques of Genetic
Modification/Genetic Engineering.
Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: Quantitative Declaration of
Ingredients.
Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guidelines for Organically
Produced Foods (Addition of Ethylene).
Proposed Draft Definition of Advertising in relation to
nutrition and health claims.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene has four primary
responsibilities. First, to draft basic provisions on food hygiene
applicable to all food. These provisions normally take the form of
Codes of Hygienic Practice for a specific commodity (e.g. bottled
water) or group of commodities (e.g., milk and milk products). Second,
to suggest and prioritize areas where there is a need for
microbiological risk assessment at the international level and to
consider microbiological risk management matters in relation to food
hygiene and in relation to the risk assessment activities of FAO and
WHO. Third, to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse food hygiene
provisions that are incorporated into specific Codex commodity
standards by the Codex commodity committees. Fourth, to provide such
other general guidance to the Commission on matters relating to food
hygiene as may be necessary. The 38th Session of the Committee met in
Houston, TX, on December 4-8, 2006. The relevant document is ALNORM 07/
30/13. The following items will be considered by the Commission at its
30th Session in July 2007.
To be considered at Step 8:
Draft Guidelines on the Application of the General
Principles of Food
[[Page 30748]]
Hygiene to the Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods.
Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Eggs and Egg Products.
Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of
Microbiological Risk Management.
New Work:
Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter
and Salmonella spp. in Broiler (Young Bird) Chicken Meat.
CCHF Risk Analysis Policies.
The committee will continue to work on:
Proposed Draft Guidelines for Validation of Food Hygienic
Control Measures.
Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Powdered
Formulae for Infants and Children.
Endorsement of Hygiene Provisions in Codex Standards and
Codes of Practice.
Annex: Application of Food Safety Metrics in Risk
Management Decision Making.
Annex: Application of Food Safety Metrics in Risk
Management Decision Making--Pasteurized Liquid Whole Egg.
Microbiological Criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in
Ready-to-Eat Foods.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is responsible
for elaborating world-wide standards and codes of practice for fresh
fruits and vegetables. The Committee met in Mexico City, Mexico, on
September 25-29, 2006. The relevant document is ALINORM 07/30/35. The
following items will be considered by the Commission at its 30th
Session in July 2007.
To be considered at Step 8:
Draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes including proposed
draft Sections 2.1.2--Maturity Requirements and 3.1--Minimum Bunch
Weight (at Step \5/8\).
To be considered at Step 5:
Proposed draft Codex Standard for Bitter Cassava.
Proposed draft Guidelines for the Inspection and
Certification of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Conformity to Quality
Standards.
The Committee continues to work on:
Draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes--Section 3 Provisions
concerning sizing.
Proposed Draft Standard for Apples.
Standard Layout for Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and
Vegetables.
Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and
Vegetables.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
(CCNFSDU) is responsible for studying nutritional issues referred by
the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Committee also drafts general
provisions, as appropriate, on nutritional aspects of all foods and
develops standards, guidelines, or related texts for foods for special
dietary uses. The Committee met October 30-November 3, 2006. The
relevant document is ALINORM 07/30/26. The following items will be
considered by the 30th Session of the Commission in July 2007.
To be adopted at Step 8:
Draft Revised Codex Standard for Infant Formula and
Formulas for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants.
To be adopted at Step 5:
Draft Revised Advisory List of Nutrient Compounds for Use
in Foods for Special Dietary Uses Intended for Infants and Young
Children.
New Work:
Application of Risk Analysis to the Work of the CCNFSDU.
The Committee continues work on:
Draft Revised Standard for Gluten-Free Foods.
Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims--Draft Table of
Conditions for Nutrient Content Claims (Part B containing Provisions on
Dietary Fibre).
Proposed Draft Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of
Health Claims.
Discussion Paper on Proposals for Additional or Revised
Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs).
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ARS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
The Fish and Fishery Products Committee is responsible for
elaborating standards for fresh, frozen and otherwise processed fish,
crustaceans and molluscs. The Committee met on September 18-22, 2006.
The relevant document is ALINORM 07/30/18. The following items will be
considered by the Commission at its 30th Session in July 2007.
To be considered at Step 5/8:
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery
Products (Quick Frozen Coated Products, Salted Fish).
To be considered at Step 5:
Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Canned
Sardines and Sardine-Type Products.
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery
Products (Live and Raw Bivalve Molluscs, Lobsters and Crabs).
Proposed Draft Standard for Live and Raw Bivalve Molluscs.
New work:
Revision of the Procedure for the Inclusion of Additional
Species in Standards for Fish and Fishery Products.
Proposed Draft Standard for Fish Sauce.
Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks
(Fish Fingers), Fish Portions and Fish Fillets--Breaded or in Batter
(Nitrogen Factors).
Proposed Draft Standard for Fresh/Live and Frozen Abalone.
The Committee continues work on the following:
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for fish and fishery
products (other sections).
Draft Standard for Sturgeon Caviar.
Proposed Draft Standard for Smoked Fish.
Proposed Draft Standard for Quick Frozen Scallop Adductor
Muscle Meat.
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Processing of
Scallop Meat.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDC/NOAA/NMFS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products is responsible for
establishing international codes and standards for milk and milk
products. The Committee will hold its 8th Session in 2008 in New
Zealand. The Committee is working on:
Proposed Draft Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk
Products.
Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for
Fermented Milks pertaining to Fermented Milk Drinks.
Proposed Draft Standard for Processed Cheese.
Amendment to the List of Additives of the Codex Standard
for Creams and Prepared Creams.
Food Additive Listings for the Codex Standard for
Fermented Milks (flavoured fermented milks).
Methods of Analysis and Sampling for Milk and Milk
Products Standards.
Discussion paper on sampling plans for milk products in
presence of significant measurement error.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
[[Page 30749]]
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils is responsible for elaborating
standards for fats and oils of animal, vegetable, and marine origin.
The Committee met February 19-23, 2007. The relevant document is
ALINORM 07/30/17. To be considered by the Commission at Step 8:
Draft Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads.
New Work:
Proposed Draft Amendments to the Standard for Named
Vegetable Oils: inclusion of palm kernel olein and palm kernel stearin.
The Committee continues work on:
Draft List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes.
Proposed Draft List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes.
Proposed Draft Amendments to the Standard for Named
Vegetable Oils: Rice Bran Oil.
Proposed Draft Amendments to the Standard for Named
Vegetable Oils.
Unbleached palm oil: total carotenoids.
Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Olive Oils
and Olive Pomace Oils: linolenic acid.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/ARS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables is
responsible for elaborating standards for Processed Fruits and
Vegetables. The Committee met on October 16-21, 2006. The relevant
document is ALINORM 07/30/27. The following items will be considered by
the Commission at its 30th Session in July 2007.
To be considered at Step 8:
Draft Codex Standard for Pickled Fruits and Vegetables.
Draft Codex Standard for Processed Tomato Concentrates.
Draft Codex Standard for Preserved (Canned) Tomatoes.
Draft Codex Standards for Certain Canned Citrus Fruits.
To be considered at Step 5:
Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Jams, Jellies, and
Marmalades.
Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Certain Canned
Vegetables.
The Committee continues to work on:
Annexes to the Proposed Draft Standard for Canned
Vegetables and the Guidelines for Packing Media for Canned Vegetables.
Standard Layout for Processed Fruits and Vegetables,
Methods of Analysis for Processed Fruits and Vegetables.
Priority List for the Standardization of Processed Fruits
and Vegetables.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Certain Codex Commodity Committees
Several Codex Alimentarius Commodity Committees have adjourned sine
die. The following Committees fall into this category:
Cocoa Products and Chocolate.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Meat Hygiene.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Natural Mineral Water.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Sugars.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/ARS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Vegetable Proteins.
Responsible Agencies: USDA/ARS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Cereals, Pulses and Legumes.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/GIPSA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance.
The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
was created by the 29th Session of the Commission. The Task Force,
hosted by the Republic of Korea, would have a time-frame of four
sessions starting with its first meeting scheduled for October 2007.
Its objective is to develop science-based guidance to assess the risks
to human health associated with the presence in food and feed,
including aquaculture, of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms and
antimicrobial resistance genes and to develop appropriate risk
management advice based on that assessment to reduce such risk. A
Circular Letter was issued requesting proposals for new work for the
Committee to discuss at its first session.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
The Commission established this task force to develop standards,
guidelines, or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods derived from
biotechnology or traits introduced into foods by biotechnology, on the
basis of scientific evidence, risk analysis and having regard, where
appropriate, to other legitimate factors relevant to the health of
consumers and the promotion of fair trade practices. The Task Force,
established by the 23rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
for a four year period of time, completed its work, but was re-
established at the 27th Session of the Commission. The relevant
document is ALINORM 07/30/34. The Committee will hold its 7th Session
in Japan on November 26-30, 2007. The Task Force will discuss the
following items:
Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety
Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals.
Proposed Draft Annex to the Guideline for the Conduct of
Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants:
Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant DNA-Plants
Modified for Nutritional or Health Benefits.
Proposed Draft Annex to the Guideline for the Conduct of
Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants on
Low-Level Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material.
Responsible Agencies: HHS/FDA; USDA/APHIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and Handling of
Quick Frozen Foods
The Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and
Handling of Quick Frozen Foods was created by the 29th Session of the
Commission to resolve all outstanding issues including the quality and
safety provisions of the Code of Practice for the Processing and
Handling of Quick Frozen Foods. The Task Force, hosted by Thailand, was
given two years to finalize the Code. Thailand and the United States
prepared a Circular Letter requesting comments on a revised Code. The
resulting document prepared from these comments will serve as the basis
for discussion at the Session of the Task Force that will take place in
early 2008.
FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is made up of an Executive
Committee, as well as approximately 30 subsidiary bodies. Included in
these subsidiary bodies are coordinating committees for groups of
countries located in proximity to each other who share common concerns.
There are currently six Regional Coordinating Committees:
Coordinating Committee for Africa.
Coordinating Committee for Asia.
Coordinating Committee for Europe.
Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the
Caribbean.
[[Page 30750]]
Coordinating Committee for the Near East.
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-
West Pacific.
The United States participates as an active member of the
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific,
and is informed of the other coordinating committees through meeting
documents, final reports, and representation at meetings. Each regional
committee:
Defines the problems and needs of the region concerning
food standards and food control;
Promotes within the committee contacts for the mutual
exchange of information on proposed regulatory initiatives and problems
arising from food control and stimulates the strengthening of food
control infrastructures;
Recommends to the Commission the development of world-wide
standards for products of interest to the region, including products
considered by the committee to have an international market potential
in the future; and
Serves a general coordinating role for the region and
performs such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the
Commission.
Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West
Pacific
The Coordinating Committee is responsible for defining problems and
needs concerning food standards and food control of all Codex member
countries of the region. Items on the agenda for the next meeting may
include:
Draft new Strategic Plan for NASWP.
Report of the Electronic Working Group on Objective 6 of
the Strategic Plan for CCNASWP.
Discussion Paper on the Development of a Standard for
Kava.
Discussion Paper on the Development of a Standard for Nonu
(Noni) Products.
Progress Report: Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation of the Codex
Alimentarius and other FAO and WHO Work on Food Standards.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Trust Fund for the
participation of developing countries in Codex.
Nomination of regional coordinator.
Responsible agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Attachment 2
U.S. Codex Alimentarius Officials Codex Committee Chairpersons
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
Dr. Karen Hulebak, Chief Scientist, Office of Public Health Science,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 3130, South Building, Washington,
DC 20250-3700, Phone: (202) 720-5735, Fax: (202) 720-2980, E-mail:
karen.hulebak@fsis.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
Mr. Terry Bane, Branch Chief, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, AMS, Room 0709, South Building, Stop 9247, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0247, Phone: (202) 720-
4693, Fax: (202) 690-1087, E-mail: terry.bane@usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food
and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place (HFV-1), Rockville, MD
20855, Phone: (301) 827-2950, Fax: (301) 827-8401, E-mail:
ssundlof@cvm.fda.gov.
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (adjourned sine die)
Mr. Steven N. Tanner, Director, Technical Services Division, Grain
Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 10383 N. Executive Hills Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64153-
1394, Phone: (816) 891-0401, Fax: (816) 891-0478, E-mail:
Stephen.n.tanner@gipsa.usda.gov.
Listing of U.S. Delegates and Alternates Worldwide General Subject
Codex Committees
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (Host
Government--United States)
U.S. Delegate
Steven D. Vaughn, D.V.M., Director, Office of New Animal Drug
Evaluation, Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA, 7500 Standish Place,
Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: (301) 827-1796, Fax: (301) 594-2297, E-
mail: SVaughn@cvm.fda.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Emilio Esteban, PhD, Director, Western Laboratory, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 620 Central Avenue,
Building 2-A, Alameda, CA 95501, Phone: (510) 337-5031, ext. 3004, Fax:
(510) 337-5036, Emilio.Esteban@fsis.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Food Additives (Host Government--China)
U.S. Delegate
Dennis M. Keefe, PhD, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA (HFS-200), Harvey W. Wiley Federal
Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835,
Phone: (202) 418-3113, Fax: (202) 418-3131, E-mail:
dennis.keefe@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Susan E. Carberry, PhD, Supervisory Chemist, Division of Petition
Review, Office of Food Additive Safety (HFS-265), Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 436-1269, Fax:
(301) 436-2972, E-mail: Susan.Carberry@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Host Government--the
Netherlands)
U.S. Delegate
Nega Beru, PhD, Director, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods, (HFS-300),
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740,
Phone: (301) 436-1700, Fax: (301) 436-2651, E-mail:
Nega.Beru@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Kerry Dearfield, PhD, Scientific Advisor for Risk Assessment, Office of
Public Health Science, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 380,
Aerospace Center, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 690-6451, Fax:
(202) 690-6337, E-mail: Kerry.Dearfield@fsis.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Host Government--China)
U.S. Delegate
Lois Rossi, Director of Registration Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Phone: (703) 305-
5035, Fax: (703) 305-5147, E-mail: rossi.lois@epa.gov.
[[Page 30751]]
Alternate Delegate
Robert Epstein, PhD, Associate Deputy Administrator, Science and
Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, Room
3522S, Mail Stop 0222, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20090, Phone: (202) 720-2158, Fax: (202) 720-1484, E-mail:
robert.epstein@usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Host Government--
Hungary)
U.S. Delegate
Gregory Diachenko, PhD, Director, Division of Product Manufacture and
Use, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition (CFSAN), FDA (HFS-300), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building,
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone: (301)
436-2387, Fax: (301) 436-2364, E-mail: gregory.diachenko@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Donald C. Kendall, Technical Services Division, Grain, Inspection,
Packers & Stockyards Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
10383 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, Phone: (816)
891-0463, Fax: (816) 891-0478, E-mail: Donnald.C.Kendall@usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
Systems (Host Government--Australia)
U.S. Delegate
Catherine Carnevale, D.V.M, Director, International Affairs Staff,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA (HFS-550), Harvey W.
Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD
20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-2380, Fax: (301) 436-2612, E-mail:
catherine.carnevale@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Mary Stanley, Director, Office of International Affairs, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2147-South
Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone:
(202) 720-0287, Fax: (202) 720-6050, E-mail:
Mary.Stanley@fsis.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on General Principles (Host Government--France)
U.S. Delegate
Note: A member of the Steering Committee heads the delegation to
meetings of the General Principles Committee.
Codex Committee on Food Labeling (Host Government--Canada)
U.S. Delegate
Barbara O. Schneeman, PhD, Director, Office of Nutritional Products,
Labelling and Dietary Uses, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS-800), College Park, MD
20740, Phone: (301) 436-2373, Fax: (301) 436-2636, E-mail:
barbara.schneeman@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Robert Post, PhD, Director, Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.
(602 Annex), Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 205-0279, Fax: (202)
205-3625, E-mail: Robert.post@fsis.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Host Government--United States)
U.S. Delegate
Robert L. Buchanan, PhD, Lead Scientist, Food Safety Initiative, Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA (HFS-006), Harvey W. Wiley
Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-
3835, Phone: (301) 436-2369, Fax: (301) 436-2360, E-mail:
robert.buchanan@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegates
Daniel Engeljohn, PhD, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of
Policy, Program, and Employee Development, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA, Room 350-E, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 205-0495, Fax: (202)
401-1760, E-mail: daniel.engeljohn@fsis.usda.gov.
Rebecca Buckner, PhD, Consumer Safety Officer, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition, FDA, Room 3B-0033, Harvey Wiley Building, 5100
Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 10740, Phone: (301) 436-1486,
Fax: (301) 436-2632, E-mail: rebecca.buckner@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (Host
Government--Germany)
U.S. Delegate
Barbara O. Schneeman, PhD, Director, Office of Nutritional Products,
Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Highway (HFS-800), College Park, MD
20740, Phone: (301) 436-2373, Fax: (301) 436-2636, E-mail:
barbara.schneeman@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Allison Yates, PhD, Director, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research
Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg 307C, Room 117, Beltsville, MD 20705,
Phone: (301) 504-8157, Fax: (301) 504-9381, E-mail:
Allison.Yates@ars.usda.gov.
Worldwide Commodity Codex Committees Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits
and Vegetables (Host Government--Mexico)
U.S. Delegate
Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit and
Vegetables Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 2086,
South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250,
Phone: (202) 690-4944, Fax: (202) 720-4722, E-mail:
dorian.lafond@usda.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Michelle Smith, PhD, Interdisciplinary Scientist, Office of Plant and
Dairy Foods, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and
Drug Administration (HFS-306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100
Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-
2024, Fax: (301) 436-2651, E-mail: Michelle.Smith@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (Host Government--Norway)
U.S. Delegate
Donald Kraemer, Acting Director, Office of Seafood, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Harvey W.
Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD
20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-2300, Fax: (301) 436-2599, E-mail:
donald.kraemer@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Timothy Hansen, Director, Seafood Inspection Program, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 10837,
1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: (301) 713-2355,
Fax: (301) 713-1081 E-mail: Timothy.Hansen@noaa.gov.
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (Host Government--United
States)
U.S. Delegate
Henry Kim, PhD, Supervisory Chemist, Division of Plant Product Safety,
[[Page 30752]]
Office of Plant and Dairy Foods, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740,
Phone: (301) 436-2023, Fax: (301) 436-2651, E-mail:
henry.kim@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Host Government--New
Zealand)
U.S. Delegate
Duane Spomer, Food Defense Advisor, Agricultural Marketing Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2750, South Building, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 720-1861,
Fax: (202) 205-5772, E-mail: duane.spomer@usda.gov.
Alternate Delegate
John F. Sheehan, Director, Division of Dairy and Egg Safety, Office of
Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, FDA (HFS-306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 436-1488, Fax:
(301) 436-2632, E-mail: john.sheehan@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (Host Government--United Kingdom)
U.S. Delegate
Dennis M. Keefe, PhD, Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA (HFS-200), Harvey W. Wiley Federal
Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835,
Phone: (301) 436-1284, Fax: (301) 436-2972, E-mail:
dennis.keefe@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Kathleen Warner, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 1815 N.
University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, Phone: (309) 681-6584, Fax: (309)
681-6668, E-mail: warnerk@ncaur.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (Host Government--
Switzerland)
U.S. Delegate
Michelle Smith, PhD, Food Technologist, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods
and Beverages, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA (HFS-
306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-2024, Fax: (301) 436-
2651, E-mail: michelle.smith@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Sugars (Host Government--United Kingdom)
U.S. Delegate
Martin Stutsman, J.D., Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA (HFS-306), Harvey W.
Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD
20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-1642, Fax: (301) 436-2651, E-mail:
martin.stutsman@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government--
United States)
U.S. Delegate
Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit and Vegetable
Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 2086, South
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone:
(202) 690-4944, Fax: (202) 720-0016, E-mail: dorian.lafond@usda.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Paul South, PhD, Division of Plant Product Safety, Office of Plant and
Dairy Foods, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, 5100
Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: (301) 436-1640,
Fax: (301) 436-2561, E-mail: paul.south@fda.hhs.gov.
Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins (Host Government--Canada)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Wilda H. Martinez, Area Director, ARS North Atlantic Area,
Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 600 E. Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA
19038, Phone: (215) 233-6593, Fax: (215) 233-6719, E-mail:
wmartinez@ars.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (Host Government--New Zealand)
U.S. Delegate
Perfecto Santiago, D.V.M., Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of
Food Security and Emergency Preparedness, Room 3130, South Building,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 205-0452, Fax: (202) 690-5634,
E-mail: perfecto.santiago@fsis.usda.gov.
Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (Host Government--
Switzerland)
U.S. Delegate
Lauren Robin, PhD, Review Chemist, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration, Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch
Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-1639, Fax: (301)
436-2651, E-mail: Lauren.Robin@fda.hhs.gov.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived From Modern
Biotechnology (Host Government--Japan)
U.S. Delegate
Eric Flamm, PhD, Senior Advisor, Office of the Commissioner, Food and
Drug Administration, Room 1561, Parklawn Building, Rockville, MD 20857,
Phone: (301) 827-0591, Fax: (301) 827-4774, E-mail: EFLAMM@OC.FDA.GOV.
Alternate Delegate
Cindy Smith, Deputy Administrator, Biotechnology Regulatory Services,
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Unit 98 Ste. 5B05, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737,
Phone: (301) 734-7324, Fax: (301) 734-6352, E-mail:
Cindy.J.Smith@aphis.usda.gov.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (Host
Government--Republic of Korea)
Delegate
David G. White, D.V.M., Director, National Antimicrobial Resistance
Monitoring System (NARMS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center
for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, 8401 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel,
MD 20708, Phone: (301) 210-4181, Fax: (301) 210-4685, E-mail:
David.White@fda.hhs.gov.
Alternate Delegate
Neena Anandaraman, D.V.M., Veterinary Medical Officer, Zoonotic
Diseases & Residue Surveillance Division, Office of Public Health
Science, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 343, Aerospace Center, Washington, DC 20250, Phone:
(202) 690-6429, Fax: (202) 690-6565, E-mail:
neena.anandaraman@fsis.usda.gov.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Quick Frozen Foods (Host
Government--Thailand)
Delegate
Donald Zink, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods,
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Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-302), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone: (301) 436-1692,
Fax: (301) 436-2632, E-mail: Donald.Zink@fda.hhs.gov.
There are six regional coordinating committees:
Coordinating Committee for Africa.
Coordinating Committee for Asia.
Coordinating Committee for Europe.
Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Coordinating Committee for the Near East.
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific.
Contact
Paulo Almeida, Associate Manager for Codex, U.S. Codex Office, Food
Safety and Inspection Service, Room 4861, South Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone: (202) 205-
7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157, E-mail: paulo.almeida@fsis.usda.gov.
[FR Doc. E7-10327 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P