National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; Notice of Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service

7 CFR Parts 210 and 220

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program;

Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994 amended

the National School Lunch Act to require that meals served through the

National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs comply with the

Dietary Guidelines for Americans beginning no later than the

commencement of the 1996-97 school year. Compliance with the Dietary

Guidelines is to be achieved through a variety of meal planning

approaches including ``food-based menu systems.'' The food-based menu

planning concept is published elsewhere in today's Federal Register.

Further, the Act requires that the Department conduct a public meeting

to discuss the proposed food-based menu systems. This Notice announces

the meeting.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 17, 1995, from

8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Persons who cannot attend the meeting may submit

written comments on the proposed regulation. To be assured of

consideration, comments must be postmarked on or before March 13, 1995,

and comments transmitted via E-mail must be sent no later than 5 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time on that same date.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Williamsburg Room, Room

#104A, Administration Building, USDA, 12th and Jefferson Drive, SW.,

Washington, DC 20250. Written comments should be sent to: Mr. Robert M.

Eadie, Chief, Policy and Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition

Division, Food and Consumer Service (FCS), USDA, 3101 Park Center

Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302. Comments may be sent via E-mail to:

[email protected]. If comments are sent electronically, commenters

should designate ``receipt requested'' to be notified by E-mail that

the message has been received by USDA. Written submissions, the meeting

transcript, and comment letters may be reviewed by the public in Room

1007 in the Alexandria office of FCS listed above during regular

business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Wasserman, Food and Consumer

Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302;

(703) 305-2281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is not a rule as defined by the

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from

the provisions of that Act. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3507), no new recordkeeping or reporting

requirements have been included that are subject to approval from the

Office of Management and Budget.

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are listed

in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.553 and No.

10.555, respectively, and are subject to the provisions of Executive

Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State

and local officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, and the final

rule related notice published at 48 FR 29112, June 24, 1983.)

Background

Section 112(c) of Public Law (Pub. L.) 103-448, the Healthy Meals

for Healthy Americans Act of 1994, enacted on November 2, 1994, amended

section 9 of the National School Lunch Act (NSLA), 42 U.S.C. 1758(f),

to require that the Department develop ``food-based'' systems for

school food authorities to use in planning and preparing meals served

under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast

Program (SBP). Section 106(b) of Pub. L. 103-448 also amended section 9

of the NSLA, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(f)(2)(A), to require that school meals

meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by July 1, 1996, unless the

State agency permits later implementation.

Section 112(c)(2) of Pub. L. 103-448 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1760(k)(2))

also requires that the Department hold a public meeting to ``discuss

and obtain public comments on the proposed rule'' not later than 45

days after the publication of the proposed regulation. The legislation

states that the meeting shall be held with, among others,

representatives of affected parties, such as program administrators,

school food service personnel, parents, and teachers. Further, the

legislation mentions inclusion of organizations, such as public

interest antihunger organizations, health and consumer groups, food

manufacturers and vendors, and nutritionists.

In addition to this Notice, the Department is issuing invitations

to organizations and individuals who may have an interest

in this proposal. Among those specifically invited are the American

School Food Service Association, National PTA, Public Voice for Food

and Health Policy, American Heart Association, American Dietetic

Association, Center for Science in the Public Interest, the American

Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Education Association, as well

as organizations representing major food manufacturers or vendors that

sell food products to the school meal programs. In addition to hearing

comments from invitees, one hour will be reserved at the close of the

meeting for observers who, on a first-come, first-serve basis and

subject to time limits, wish to present their comments. Written

material will also be accepted from participants and observers who want

to provide additional information.

An official transcript plus any additional material submitted

through this public meeting will be considered in development of the

final regulations on nutrition standards and menu planning approaches.

Dated: January 18, 1995.

William Ludwig,

Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.

[FR Doc. 95-2045 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-30-U