Food Labeling; Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruit, Vegetables, and Fish; Guidelines for Voluntary Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruit, Vegetables, and Fish; Identification of the 20 Most Frequently Consumed Raw Fruit, Vegetables, and Fish; Reopening of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Part 101

[Docket No. 94N-0155]

RIN 0905-AB68

Food Labeling; Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruit, Vegetables, and

Fish; Guidelines for Voluntary Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruit,

Vegetables, and Fish; Identification of the 20 Most Frequently Consumed

Raw Fruit, Vegetables, and Fish; Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening to

November 16, 1994, the comment period for a proposed rule that appeared

in the Federal Register of July 18, 1994 (59 FR 36379). The document

proposed to revise the guidelines for voluntary nutrition labeling of

raw fruit, vegetables, and fish; revise the definition for compliance

with respect to adherence by retailers to those guidelines; and revise

the labeling regulations and labeling values for the 20 most frequently

consumed raw fruit, vegetables, and fish. This action is in response to

the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. In addition, the

document solicited comments on all aspects of the FDA data base review

process. FDA is taking this action in response to several requests for

an extension of the comment period.

DATES: Written comments by November 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments, data, or information to the Dockets

Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, rm. 1-23,

12420 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean A.T. Pennington, Center for Food

Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-165), Food and Drug Administration,

200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-5434.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of July 18, 1994 (59

FR 36379), FDA issued a proposed rule to adopt regulations to revise

the guidelines for voluntary labeling of raw fruit, vegetables, and

fish. The agency also published a correction document on July 21, 1994

(59 FR 37190), to correct an inadvertent error in the proposal.

Interested persons were given until September 16, 1994, to comment on

the proposal.

FDA has received several requests from trade associations for an

extension of the comment period in order to better review the proposal

and prepare comments. Most requests ask for a 30-day extension.

After careful review of these requests, FDA has concluded that it

is in the public interest to allow additional time for comments. With

the additional period, the agency is providing more than 90 days for

comments. FDA considers that this amount of time should be more than

ample for interested persons to complete and submit their comments.

Accordingly, the agency is reopening the comment period to November 16,

1994.

Interested persons may, on or before November 16, 1994, submit to

the Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments

regarding this proposal. Two copies of any comments are to be

submitted, except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to

be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading

of this document. Received comments may be seen in the office above

between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Dated: October 6, 1994.

Fred R. Shank,

Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

[FR Doc. 94-25634 Filed 10-14-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160-01-F