FDA to discuss food security rules in meeting via satellite

Jan 16, 2003 (CIDRAP News) – The Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting, broadcast via satellite link, Jan 29 to discuss proposed rules to help prevent deliberate contamination of foods sold in the United States.

The rules will require food establishments to register with the government and give the FDA advance notice of food imports. The purpose of the meeting is to explain the proposed regulations to the public and give the public a chance to comment or ask questions, according to an FDA notice in the Federal Register.

The FDA said it developed the rules to implement portions of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, passed last June.

The meeting is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. EST on Jan 29. The broadcast can be viewed at facilities in Buffalo, N.Y.; Chicago; Kirkland, Wash.; Houston; Laredo, Tex.; and College Park, Md. Details on the locations and contacts for more information on each are listed on the FDA Web site and in the Federal Register notice (see links below). Space at each viewing site is limited, and those interested in viewing the meeting must register in advance with the contact person for the site.

People can submit questions for the meeting in advance by contacting Louis J. Carson, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740; telephone 301-436-2130; fax 301-436-2605; e-mail Louis.Carson@cfsan.fda.gov.

The FDA notice also lists coordinates that those who have a satellite dish can use to access the broadcast. The agency plans to make written transcripts of the meeting available on its Web site 3 weeks afterward.

Section 305 of the 2002 bioterrorism law requires food manufacturing, packing, and processing facilities to register with the FDA by Dec 12, 2003, according to the FDA. Farms, restaurants, retail food stores, and nonprofit food services are exempt from the requirement. In addition, Section 307 of the law requires that food importers start notifying the FDA of imports by Dec 12, 2003.

See also:

Federal Register notice of the meeting
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/03-660.htm

Registration information for the meeting
http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/meeting01_29.html