1. Committee's Official Designation
   The Committee shall be known as the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), hereafter referred to as "the Committee", "Committee" or "the NACMCF".
2. Authority
   The NACMCF is a discretionary advisory committee that was established in 1988 by the Secretary of Agriculture after consulting with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The NACMCF was also established and operates in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 10. The Committee is in the public interest in connection with the responsibilities of the United States Department of Agriculture.
3. Objectives and Scope of Activities
   The NACMCF provides impartial scientific advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on public health issues relative to the safety and wholesomeness of the U.S. food supply, including the development of microbiological criteria and review and evaluation of epidemiological and risk assessment data and methodologies for assessing microbiological hazards in foods. The Committee also provides scientific advice and recommendations to the Departments of Commerce and Defense.
4. Description of Duties
   The duties of the Committee are solely advisory in nature.
5. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports
   The Committee reports to the Secretary of Agriculture through the Under Secretary for Food Safety and to the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Assistant Secretary for Health (or designee).
6. Support
   The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Office of Public Health Science, provides administrative support to the Committee.
7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years
   The total estimated annual fiscal year operating cost for the Committee is $225,000, and 1.4 full time equivalent federal staff support. Committee Members shall receive reimbursement for travel-related expenses in the performance of their duties away from their homes or regular places of business, including per diem for attendance at Committee and subcommittee meetings, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703.
8. Designated Federal Officer
   A permanent federal employee from FSIS is appointed in accordance with Agency procedures and serves as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). The DFO approves the Committee's and subcommittees' meetings, prepares and approves all meeting agendas, participates in all Committee and subcommittee meetings, adjourns any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chairs meetings when directed to do so by the Secretary of Agriculture (or designee).
9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings
   The full Committee will meet one to three times per year. Meetings of the full Committee are open to the public.
10. Duration
    Continuing.
11. Termination
    The Committee shall terminate two years from the date this charter is filed, unless deemed necessary and in the interest of the American public and the Secretary of Agriculture determines prior to that date that continuation of work is not in the public interest. No Committee work will be done without a current filed charter in accordance with FACA.
12. Membership and Designation
    1. This Committee will be fairly balanced in its membership in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed. Steps will be taken to encourage fresh points of view, such as establishing staggered membership terms and limiting the number of reappointed memberships.
       
       Committee members serve 2-year terms and may be reappointed for one consecutive term. Former members are eligible for repeat service after one term of non-service. Federal employee members are not subject to term limits.
    2. The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint the membership of the Committee after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (or designee) and, as appropriate, with the NACMCF Executive Committee, which consists of the following five participating agencies: the Department of Agriculture's FSIS, the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Department of Defense's Veterinary Service Activity (DODVSA).
       
       The Committee will consist of not more than 30 individuals; the members will include one individual affiliated with a consumer organization to serve in a representational capacity, five Regular Government Employees (RGEs) representing FSIS, FDA, CDC, NMFS, and DODVSA, and 24 scientific experts representing academia, industry, and State governments. Members of the Committee will be chosen based on their expertise in microbiology, risk assessment, epidemiology, public health, food science, and other relevant disciplines to obtain the scientific perspective, expertise, experience, and point-of-view of all stakeholders.
       
       Non-federal government employee members will be appointed as Special Government Employees (SGEs). All members serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.
    3. The Secretary of Agriculture (or designee) will appoint the NACMCF Chairperson, who is recognized for his or her ability to lead a group in a fair and focused manner and who has been briefed on the mission of this Committee. The Secretary of Agriculture (or designee) will assign the Committee Vice-chairperson after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (or designee).
    4. Ethics Statement
       To maintain the highest levels of honesty, integrity and ethical conduct, no Committee or subcommittee member shall participate in any "specific party matters" (i.e., matters are narrowly focused and typically involve specific transactions between identified parties) such as a lease, license, permit, contract, claim, grant, agreement, or related litigation with the Department in which the member has a direct or indirect financial interest. This includes the requirement for Committee or Subcommittee members to immediately disclose to the DFO (for discussion with USDA's Office of Ethics) any specific party matter in which the member's immediate family, relatives, business partners or employer would be directly seeking to financially benefit from the Committee's recommendations.
       
       All members will receive ethics training to identify and avoid any actions that would cause the public to question the integrity of the Committee's advice and recommendations. Members who are appointed as "Representatives" are not subject to Federal ethics laws because such appointment allows them to represent the point(s) of view of a particular group, business sector or segment of the public.
       
       Members appointed as SGEs are considered intermittent federal employees and are subject to federal ethics laws. SGE's are appointed due to their personal knowledge, academic scholarship, background, or expertise. No SGE may participate in any activity in which the member has a prohibited financial interest. Appointees who are SGEs are required to complete and submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450 form) via the FDonline e-filing database system. Upon request USDA will assist SGEs in preparing these financial reports. To ensure the highest level of compliance with applicable ethical standards, USDA will provide ethics training to SGEs on an annual basis. The provisions of these paragraphs are not meant to exhaustively cover all federal ethics laws and do not affect any other statutory or regulatory obligations to which advisory committee members are subject.
    5. Equal Opportunity Statement
       Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, will be followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including underserved communities.
       
       The USDA prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, political beliefs, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
13. Subcommittees
    The Food Safety and Inspection Service, in consultation with the DFO, has the authority to create subcommittees. Subcommittees must report back to the parent committee and must not provide advice or work products directly to the Agency.
14. Recordkeeping
    The records of this Committee, formally and informally established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the committee, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2 or other approved Agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552. Information about this Committee is available online at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmcf.
15. Filing Date
    February 21, 2024

NACMCF has made important contributions to a broad range of critical food safety issues. Members of the Committee are chosen on the basis of their expertise in microbiology, risk assessment, epidemiology, public health, food science, and other relevant disciplines, in order to obtain the scientific perspective, expertise, experience, and point-of-view of all stakeholders.

NACMCF members serve a two-year term. Members may only serve on one USDA advisory committee at a time. See the NACMCF Charter for more details on NACMCF membership and designation.

Solicitation for nominations to NACMCF and instructions on how to apply will be announced in the Federal Register during the open nomination period. Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified persons for membership on NACMCF. Self-nominations are also accepted. Prospective members must submit to a background investigation and review of their qualifications. A nomination package must include the following:

1. Cover letter that provides brief information on your accomplishments and how you believe you can benefit the Committee that is addressed to the Secretary of Agriculture
2. Resume or curriculum vitae limited to five one-sided pages and includes educational background, expertise, and a list of select publications, if available, that confirm the nominee’s expertise for the related work
3. Completed Advisory Committee Background Information Form (AD-755 form)

The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) was enacted in 1972 to ensure that advice by the various advisory committees formed over the years is objective and accessible to the public. The Act formalized a process for establishing, operating, overseeing, and terminating these advisory bodies and created the Committee Management Secretariat to monitor compliance with the Act.

Check on Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Management Overview to learn more about the FACA and how it is used to govern the operation of federal advisory committees and encourage public involvement through open meetings and reporting.

Please send questions, comments, and other correspondence concerning the NACMCF to the Executive Secretariat Office at NACMCF@usda.gov

NACMCF reports provide current information and can serve as part of the foundation for regulations and programs aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health. For example, NACMCF was instrumental in formulating and standardizing the principles of hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) systems.

Below is a list of select reports completed by NACMCF. Contact the NACMCF Executive Secretariat at NACMCF@usda.gov if you are looking for a NACMCF report or another document that is not included in this list:

• 2023. Adopted - 2023, JFP - NA Response to questions posed by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA): Cyclospora cayetanensis in Produce https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/NACMCF_Cyclospora_Report_2023_Final.pdf
• 2023. Adopted - 2023, JFP - 2024 Response to Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service: Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/NACMCF_Salmonella_2023.pdf
• 2022. Adopted - 2021, JFP - 2022 "The Use of Water in Animal Production, Slaughter, and Processing" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22110689-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2022. Adopted - 2021, JFP - 2022 Microbiological Testing by Industry of Ready-to-Eat Foods under FDA's Jurisdiction for Pathogens (or Appropriate Indicator Organisms): Verification of Preventive Controls
• 2019. Adopted - 2018, JFP - 2019 "Response to Questions Posed by the Food and Drug Administration Regarding Virulence Factors and Attributes that Define Foodborne Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) as Severe Human Pathogens" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22102401-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2019. Adopted - 2018, JFP - 2019 "Response to Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service Regarding Salmonella Control Strategies in Poultry" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22102243-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2018. Adopted - 2017, JFP - 2018 "Response to Questions Posed by the Department of Defense Regarding Microbiological Criteria as Indicators of Process Control or Insanitary Conditions" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22083909-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2016. Adopted - 2014, JFP - 2016. Response to the Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Defense Health Agency, Veterinary Services Activity Regarding Control Strategies for Reducing Foodborne Norovirus Infections
• 2010. Adopted - 2007, JFP - 2010 " Assessment of Food as a Source of Exposure to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)" 1-s2.0-S0362028X23059859-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2010. Adopted - 2009, JFP - 2010 "Parameters for Determining Inoculated Pack/Challenge Study Protocols" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22115759-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2010. Adopted - 2009, JFP - 2010 "Response to Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service Regarding Determination of the most Appropriate Technologies for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to Adopt in Performing Routine and Baseline Microbiological Analyses" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22128437-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2010. Adopted - 2009, JFP - 2010.The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), in response to questions posed by FDA, developed guidelines for conducting challenge studies on pathogen inhibition and inactivation studies in a variety of foods
• 2008. Adopted - 2007, JFP - 2008.Response to the Questions Posed by the Food and Drug Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service Regarding Determination of Cooking Parameters for Safe Seafood for Consumers 1-s2.0-S0362028X22065826-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 2007. Adopted - 2005, JFP - 2007. Analytical Utility of Campylobacter Methodologies
• 2006. Adopted - 2004, JFP - 2006.Requisite Scientific Parameters for Establishing the Equivalence of Alternative Methods of Pasteurization
• 2005. Adopted - 2004, JFP - 2005. Considerations for Establishing Safety-Based Consume-By Date Labels for Refrigerated Ready-to-Eat Foods
• 2001. The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) Report 2002.01.25 Holding Temperatures
• 2001. The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) Report 2001.09 Holding Temperatures
• 1999. Adopted - 1999, JFP - 1999.Microbiological safety evaluations and recommendations on sprouted seeds.
• 1999. Adopted - 1999, JFP - 1999. Microbiological safety evaluations and recommendations on fresh produce
• 1998. Adopted - 1997, JFP - 1998.Hazard analysis and critical control point principles and application guidelines. National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
• 1997. Adopted - 1996, JFP - 1997.Microbial Hazards and Emerging Issues Associated with Produce† A Preliminary Report to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiologic Criteria for Foods. 1-s2.0-S0362028X22044520-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 1997. Adopted - 1996, JFP - 1997.National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods "Principles of Risk Assessment for Illnesses Caused by Foodborne Biological Agents" 1-s2.0-S0362028X22044544-main.pdf (sciencedirectassets.com)
• 1996. Adopted - 1996, JFP - 1997. Generic HACCP Application in Broiler Slaughter and Processing
• 1990. Adopted - 1990, JFP - 1990. National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. 1990. Refrigerated foods containing cooked, uncured meat or poultry products that are packaged for extended refrigerated shelf life and that are ready-to-eat or prepared with little or no additional heat treatment