[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63305-63308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26371]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0400]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2011-0014]
Approaches To Reducing Sodium Consumption; Public Meeting
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS; Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS), the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Center
for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) are announcing a public
meeting entitled ``Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption.'' FDA and
FSIS recently published a Federal Register notice that announced the
establishment of dockets to obtain comments, data, and evidence
relevant to the dietary intake of sodium as well as current and
emerging approaches designed to promote sodium reduction. The purpose
of the public meeting is to provide interested persons an opportunity
to
[[Page 63306]]
discuss the topics raised in the earlier notice.
DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments, data, and evidence
to either FDA's Division of Dockets Management or FSIS's Docket Clerk
by November 29, 2011. See also ``How To Participate in the Meeting'' in
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
ADDRESSES: See Table 1 of this document for meeting location and other
information regarding registration for this meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
FDA: Patricia M. Kuntze, Office of External Affairs, Food and Drug
Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 32, Rm. 5322, Silver
Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-8641, Patricia.Kuntze@fda.hhs.gov.
FSIS: Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins, Director, Labeling and Program Delivery
Division, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, FSIS, OPPD,
LPDD Stop Code 3784, Patriots Plaza III, 8-161A, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In the Federal Register of September 15, 2011 (76 FR 57050), FDA
and FSIS announced the establishment of dockets to obtain comments,
data, and evidence that will inform future Agency activities regarding
the reduction of dietary intake of sodium. FDA, CDC, FSIS, ARS, and
CNPP are announcing a public meeting entitled ``Approaches to Reducing
Sodium Consumption'' to discuss the topics raised in section II of that
notice. Interested persons may also wish to review the FDA's Sodium
Reduction Web page located at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm253316.htm.
Reducing sodium consumption is also part of the Department of
Health and Human Services' (the Department's) recently-launched Million
Hearts initiative (http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/). The Department,
working with several key initial partners, is aiming to prevent one
million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years. Among other
significant public health goals, the campaign stresses the need to
identify opportunities for sodium reduction.
II. Purpose and Format of the Meeting
If you wish to attend and/or present at the meeting scheduled for
November 10, 2011, please register at http://events.SignUp4.net/FDA_Sodium_Reduction by November 3, 2011. FDA, CDC, FSIS, ARS, and CNPP
are holding the public meeting on sodium reduction in foods to inform
possible future actions by the Agencies. In general, the meeting format
will include introductory presentations by FDA, USDA, and CDC, but
listening to interested persons is the primary purpose of this meeting.
In order to meet this goal, FDA, CDC, FSIS, ARS and CNPP will provide
multiple opportunities for individuals to express their opinions
through oral presentations at the meeting, participation in break-out
sessions on the issues discussed at the meeting, and submission of
electronic or written comments, data, and evidence to FDA's Division of
Dockets Management and/or FSIS's Docket Clerk by November 29, 2011. The
break-out session topics will be available prior to the meeting on
FDA's Sodium Reduction Web page at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm253316.htm. The plenary sessions and some
of the breakout sessions will be Web cast; see section III of this
document, ``How to Participate in the Meeting.'' In order to provide
Web cast participants with information before and after the meeting, we
request attendees provide their name, their affiliation, and e-mail
address when pre-registering for the Web cast at http://events.SignUp4.net/FDA_Sodium_Reduction.
III. How To Participate in the Meeting
Interested persons will have an opportunity to provide oral
comments, time permitting. Due to limited space and time, FDA, CDC,
FSIS, ARS, and CNPP encourage all persons who wish to attend the
meeting onsite or via Web cast to register in advance at http://events.SignUp4.net/FDA_Sodium_Reduction. There is no fee to register
for the public meeting, and registration will be on a first-come,
first-served basis. Early registration is recommended because seating
is limited. Onsite registration will be accepted, as space permits,
after all preregistered attendees are seated. Table 1 of this document
provides information on participating in the meeting and on submitting
comments to the docket.
Those requesting an opportunity to make an oral presentation during
the time allotted for public comment at the meeting, are asked to
submit their request by November 3, 2011, and to provide the specific
topic or issue to be addressed and the approximate desired length of
their presentation. Depending on the number of requests for such oral
presentations, there may be a need to limit the number and length
(e.g., 3 minutes each) of the oral presentations. If time permits,
individuals or organizations that did not register in advance may be
granted the opportunity for such an oral presentation. FDA, CDC, FSIS,
ARS, and CNPP would like to maximize the number of individuals who make
a presentation at the meeting and will do our best to accommodate all
persons who wish to make a presentation or express their opinions at
the meeting. We are especially interested in hearing about sodium
reduction related research results or research efforts underway. FDA,
CDC, FSIS, ARS, and CNPP anticipate that there will be several
opportunities for interested persons to speak in break-out sessions. A
Web cast will be available for interested persons who are not onsite.
Interested persons will also have an opportunity to submit electronic
or written comments to the docket following the meeting, but no later
than November 29, 2011.
FDA, CDC, FSIS, ARS, and CNPP encourage persons and groups who have
similar interests to consolidate their information for presentation
through a single representative. After reviewing the presentation
requests, FDA will notify each participant before the meeting of the
amount of time available, the approximate time their presentation is
scheduled to begin, and the presentation format.
Table 1--Information on Participation in the Meeting and on Submitting Comments
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Address (non
Date Electronic address electronic) Other information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Public Meeting.......... November 10, 2011, Individuals who FDA White Oak Registration
from 9 a.m. to wish to Campus, The Great begins at 7:30
5:30 p.m. EST. participate in Room, Bldg. 31, a.m.
person are asked Rm. 1503, 10903
to pre-register New Hampshire
at http:// Ave., Silver
events.SignUp4.ne Spring, MD 20993.
t/FDA--Sodium--
Reduction.
[[Page 63307]]
Web cast........................ November 10, 2011, Individuals who FDA encourages the The Web cast will
from 9 a.m. to wish to view the use of electronic provide closed
5:30 p.m. EST). Web cast of this registration, if captioning.
meeting are possible.
requested to pre-
register at
http://events.SignUp4.net/FDA_Sodium_Reduction Reduction. It is
recommended that
Web cast
attendees test
their Internet
connection to
confirm access to
the Web cast
prior to the
meeting. To test
this connection,
visit http://fda.yorkcast.com/webcast/Catalog/catalogs/default.aspx and
click on ``CDRH
Television
Tutorial and
Firewall Test.''.
Advance Registration............ Register by http:// FDA encourages the Registration to
November 3, 2011. events.SignUp4.ne use of electronic attend the
t/FDA--Sodium-- registration, if meeting will also
Reduction. possible. be accepted
onsite on the day
of the meeting,
as space permits.
Registration
information may
be posted without
change to http://www.regulations.gov ov, including any
personal
information
provided.
Request special accommodations Register by .................. Patricia M.
due to disability. November 3, 2011. Kuntze, 301-796-
8641, e-mail:
Patricia.Kuntze@fda.hhs.gov.
Make a request for oral Register by http:// .................. Requests made on
presentation. November 3, 2011. events.SignUp4.ne the day of the
t/FDA--Sodium-- meeting to make
Reduction. an oral
presentation may
be granted as
time permits.
Information on
requests to make
an oral
presentation may
be posted without
change to http://www.regulations.gov ov, including any
personal
information
provided.
Provide a brief description of By November 3, http:// .................. Written material
the oral presentation and any 2011. events.SignUp4.ne associated with
written material for the t/FDA--Sodium-- an oral
presentation. Reduction. presentation
should be
submitted in
Microsoft
PowerPoint,
Microsoft Word,
or Adobe Portable
Document Format
(PDF) and may be
posted without
change to http://www.regulations.gov ov, including any
personal
information
provided.
[[Page 63308]]
Submit electronic or written Submit comments by Federal FDA: FAX: 301-827- All comments must
comments. November 29, 2011. eRulemaking 6870. Mail/Hand include the
Portal: http:// delivery/Courier Agency name and
www.regulations.g (for paper, disk, the docket number
ov. Follow the or CD-ROM (see table 2 of
instructions for submissions): this document for
submitting Division of a list of
comments. Dockets Agencies and
Management (HFA- corresponding
305), Food and docket numbers).
Drug All received
Administration, comments may be
5630 Fishers posted without
Lane, rm. 1061, change to http://
Rockville, MD www.regulations.g
20852. ov, including any
FSIS: Docket personal
Clerk, U.S. information
Department of provided. FDA and
Agriculture, Food FSIS encourage
Safety and the submission of
Inspection electronic
Service, George comments by using
Washington Carver the Federal
Center, 5601 eRulemaking
Sunnyside Ave., Portal. For
Mailstop 547, additional
Beltsville, MD information on
20705-5464. submitting
comments, see the
``Comments''
heading of the
SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION
section of this
document.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Comments
FDA: Regardless of attendance at the public meeting, interested
persons may submit to FDA's Division of Dockets Management (see
Addresses in table 1 of this document) either electronic or written
comments for consideration at or after the meeting, in addition to, or
in place of, a request for an opportunity to make an oral presentation.
It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no longer
necessary to send two copies of mailed comments. Identify comments with
the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.
Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FSIS: Regardless of attendance at the public meeting, interested
persons may submit to FSIS's Docket Clerk (see Addresses in table 1 of
this document) either electronic or written comments regarding this
document. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in
the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the FSIS
Docket Room between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Because two docket numbers are associated with this document,
please include with your comments the docket number that corresponds
with the appropriate Agency. Comments submitted for inclusion in both
dockets should be separately submitted to each identified docket number
to ensure consideration by both Agencies.
V. Transcripts
Please be advised that as soon as a transcript is available, it
will be posted on FDA's Sodium Reduction Web page at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm253316.htm. It may also be
viewed at the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. A
transcript will also be available in either hardcopy or on CD-ROM,
after submission of a Freedom of Information request. Written requests
are to be sent to Division of Freedom of Information (ELEM-1029), Food
and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Element Bldg., Rockville,
MD 20857.
Dated: October 6, 2011.
Leslie Kux,
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy, Food and Drug Administration.
Dated: October 4, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26371 Filed 10-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P