Public Meetings will be held on the Food
Safety Institute of the Americas
FSIS will hold public meetings to discuss future plans for the Food
Safety Institute of the Americas (FSIA) on October 13-15, 2004,
in Miami, Florida.
The FSIA's goal is to further food safety education, information
and communication throughout the Americas. The Institute will also
seek to tap into existing networks of universities and organizations
within North, South and Central America and the Caribbean to further
promote the development of international food safety standards in
the western hemisphere.
Attendees will be encouraged to make suggestions on the scope and
direction of the FSIA at plenary sessions and in small group workshops.
Issues to be discussed will include: identifying and assessing educational
and informational needs; fostering collaboration and partnership
development; establishing strategies and best practices for developing
and delivering programs; and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The meetings will be held at the Radisson Miami Biscayne Bay hotel
from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
on Thursday, October 14; and from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday,
October 15.
All sessions are free, but registration is required. Attendees
who need sign language interpreters or have other special needs
should contact the FSIA at (305) 347-5552 or by fax at (305) 530-6066.
Agendas are available on the Internet at: www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events
FSIS invites all interested persons to take part in the public
meetings and submit comments on the topics to be discussed at the
public meeting. Comments may be submitted by mail to Docket Clerk,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service,
300 12th Street, SW, Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Submissions must include the agency name and docket number 04-035N.
To comment go to: www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2004_notices_index/
FSIS is Recognized for Work with Small and Very Small Plants
FSIS recently received high marks for its work with small and very
small plants in the Small Business Administration's Office of the
National Ombudsman (ONO) annual report to Congress, "Rating of Agencies
According to FY 2003 Criteria."
FSIS recognizes the unique needs of small and very small plants
and has implemented various activities that demonstrate how FSIS
has met the goals of Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness
Act (SBREFA) and its commitment to assist small and very small plants.
The SBREFA was passed to give small businesses a greater voice
in the development and enforcement of Federal regulations. There
are two major parts of SBREFA: Regulatory Development and the National
Ombudsman and the Regulatory Fairness Boards. During regulatory
development, SBREFA requires agencies to analyze and consider small
business concerns when a proposed regulation will have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses. Small
businesses are encouraged to participate in the rulemaking process.
ONO and Fairness Boards provide another venue for small businesses
to express their concerns in addition to participating in the Agency's
regulatory process by providing comments or contacting their Congressperson.
Through the provisions of SBREFA, the Small Business Administration
(SBA) appoints a national ombudsman and creates 10 regional Fairness
Boards, made up of small businesspersons. Small businesses may contact
the national ombudsman or Fairness Boards about their complaints
regarding Agency regulatory, compliance or enforcement decisions.
A copy of the report is available on SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
Sign Up For Email Updates
FSIS has a new email subscription service that allows you to receive
up-to-date information as it is released! You can choose what you
would like to receive: the latest news releases, notices, directives
and other documents. Sign up now at www.fsis.usda.gov/home/
Library of Export Requirement Updated
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes
in export requirements for Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Czech
Republic. Complete information can be found at: www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/Export_Information
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