Designation of High-Risk Foods for Tracing and for Scientific Data and Information; Extension of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053]

Designation of High-Risk Foods for Tracing and for Scientific Data and Information; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is extending the comment period for the notice entitled “Designation of High-Risk Foods for Tracing; Request for Comments and for Scientific Data and Information” that appeared in the

Federal Register

of February 4, 2014 (79 FR 6596). In the notice, FDA requested comments and scientific data and information that will help us to implement the section of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that requires us to designate high-risk foods. FDA is taking this action in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

DATES:

Submit either electronic or written comments on the notice by May 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments and information, identified by Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053, by any of the following methods.

Electronic Submissions

Submit electronic comments and information in the following way:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal:

http://www.regulations.gov.

Follow the instructions for submitting comments and information.

Written Submissions

Submit written submissions in the following ways:

• Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

Instructions:

All submissions received must include the Agency name and Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053 for this notice. All comments and information received may be posted without change to

http://www.regulations.gov,

including any personal information provided. For additional information on submitting comments and information, see the “Request for Comments” heading of the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section of this document.

Docket:

For access to the docket to read background documents or comments and information received, go to

http://www.regulations.gov

and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sherri Dennis, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-005), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-1914.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

In the

Federal Register

of February 4, 2014 (79 FR 6596), FDA published a notice with a 60-day comment period to request comments and scientific data and information that will help us refine our draft approach to identifying high-risk foods, as required by section 204(d)(2) of FSMA (Pub. L. 111-353). The notice summarized our draft approach for the review and evaluation of data to designate high-risk foods. We invited general comments on the draft approach, along with requests for more specific input on alternative approaches for identifying high-risk foods, whether or not the criteria should be weighted equally, changes in the scoring system, and how foods should be categorized.

FDA has received requests for extension of the comment period for the notice. Each request conveyed concern that the current 60-day comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop a meaningful or thoughtful response to the notice.

FDA has considered the requests and is extending the comment period for all interested persons for 45 days, until May 22, 2014. FDA believes that a 45-day extension allows adequate time for interested persons to submit comments.

II. Request for Comments

Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding this document to

http://www.regulations.gov

or written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (see

ADDRESSES

). It is only necessary to send one set of 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, and will be posted to the docket at

http://www.regulations.gov.

Dated: March 20, 2014.

Leslie Kux,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.

[FR Doc. 2014-06615 Filed 3-25-14; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160-01-P