[Federal Register: February 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 26)]
[Notices]
[Page 6889-6890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe05-70]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
New Mexico State University/Food and Drug Administration Food
Labeling; Public Workshop
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of public workshop.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory
Affairs (ORA), Southwest Regional Small Business Representative Program
(SWR SBR), in collaboration with New Mexico State University (NMSU),
Department of Extension Home Economics is announcing a public workshop
entitled ``NMSU/FDA Food Labeling Workshop.'' This public workshop is
intended to provide information about FDA food labeling regulations and
other related subjects to the regulated industry, particularly small
businesses and startups.
Date and Time: The public workshop will be held on March 21, 2005,
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on March 22, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: The public workshop will be held at NMSU, Las Cruces, NM
88003, Gerald Thomas Hall, rm. 337. Directions to the facility are
available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nmsu.edu/General/Maps/.\1\
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\1\FDA has verified the Web site address but is not responsible
for subsequent changes to the Web site after this document publishes
in the Federal Register.
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Contact: Gloria Hernandez, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box
30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003, 505-646-2198, FAX 505-646-1889,
or e-mail: glorhern@nmsu.edu.
Registration: Registration by March 11, 2005, is encouraged. NMSU
has an $89 registration fee to cover the cost of facilities, materials,
speakers, and breaks. Seats are limited to 80 people, please submit
your registration as soon as possible. Course space will be filled in
order of receipt of registration. Those accepted into the course will
receive confirmation. Registration will close after the course is
filled. Registration at the site is not guaranteed but may be possible
on a space available basis on the day of the public workshop beginning
at 8 a.m. The cost of registration at the site is $99 payable to New
Mexico State University. If you need special accommodations due to a
disability, please contact Gloria Hernandez (see Contact) at least 7
days in advance.
Registration Form Instructions: To register, please complete the
form below and send along with a check or money order for $89 payable
to the New Mexico State University. Mail to: New Mexico State
University, P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003. After
March 11, 2005, the registration cost is $99. Credit card payment is
not available.
Name: ----------------------------------------
Affiliation: ----------------------------------------
Mailing address: ----------------------------------------
City: ---------------------------------------- State:-------------- Zip
Code: ------------------------
Phone: ( ) ----------------------------------------------
Fax: ( ) ----------------------------------------------
E-mail: ( ) ----------------------------------------
Special Accommodations Required: --------------------------------------
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Transcripts: Transcripts of the public workshop will not be
available due to the format of this workshop. Course handouts may be
requested at cost through the Freedom of Information Office (HFI-35),
Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 12A-16, Rockville,
MD 20857, approximately 15 working days after the public workshop at a
cost of 10 cents per page.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FDA Southwest Regional Small Business
Representative previously presented this workshop in Kansas City, MO on
December 21, 2001 (66 FR 65976), and in Dallas, TX on March 29, 2002
(67 FR 15211).
This public workshop is being held in response to the large volume
of food labeling inquiries from small food manufacturers and startups
originating from the area covered by the FDA Denver District Office.
The Southwest Regional Small Business Representative presents these
workshops to help achieve objectives set forth in section 406 of the
Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393),
which include
[[Page 6890]]
working closely with stakeholders and maximizing the availability and
clarity of information to stakeholders and the public. This is
consistent with the purposes of the Small Business Representative
Program, which are in part to respond to industry inquiries, develop
educational materials, sponsor workshops and conferences to provide
firms, particularly small businesses, with firsthand working knowledge
of FDA's requirements and compliance policies. This workshop is also
consistent with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), as outreach activities by Government
agencies to small businesses.
The goal of this public workshop is to present information that
will enable manufacturers and regulated industry to better comply with
labeling requirements, especially in light of growing concerns about
obesity and food allergens. Information presented will be based on
agency position as articulated through regulation, compliance policy
guides, and information previously made available to the public. Topics
to be discussed at the workshop include: (1) Mandatory label elements,
(2) nutrition labeling requirements, (3) health and nutrition claims,
(4) FDA's allergen declaration policy, and (5) special labeling issues
such as exemptions. FDA expects that participation in this public
workshop will provide regulated industry with greater understanding of
the regulatory and policy perspectives on food labeling and increased
voluntary compliance.
Dated: February 2, 2005.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 05-2450 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S