On Tuesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the second and third public meetings, in addition to the recently-announced Washington, DC two-day meeting, it will host to discuss proposed rules for produce safety and preventive controls, as outlined by the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Details on those three meetings: Washington, DC February 28, 2013 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm & March 1, 2013 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Jefferson Auditorium U.S. Department of Agriculture 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Wing 5 Entrance Washington, DC 20250 Chicago, IL March 11, 2013 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm & March 12, 2013 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm The Westin-Michigan Avenue 909 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 Portland, OR March 27, 2013 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm & March 28, 2013 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Crown Plaza Portland Downtown Convention Center 1441 NE 2nd Avenue Portland, OR 97232 The meetings will cover the first two of the five proposed rules central to the FSMA. The FDA welcomes oral commentary from the public and officials will be available to answer questions about the rules. More information from the FDA below: Public Meeting attendees are encouraged to register on-line or contact: Courtney Treece, Planning Professionals, Ltd., 1210 W. McDermott, Suite 111, Allen, TX 75013, telephone: 704-258-4983, fax:469-854-6992, e-mail: ctreece@planningprofessionals.com. For general questions about the meetings or to request special accommodations due to a disability, contact: Juanita Yates, FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, telephone: 240-402-1731, e-mail: juanita.yates@fda.hhs.gov. Additional Information and registration: Register Online Federal Register Notice for the Public Meeting Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Overview of the FSMA Proposed Rules on Produce Safety Standards and Preventive Controls for Human Food Fact Sheet on the FSMA Proposed Rule for Produce: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Fact Sheet on the FSMA Proposed Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food: Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food NOTE: A small block of rooms has been reserved at The Westin Hotel in Chicago and the Crown Plaza Downtown Convention Center in Portland, OR. Additional information is provided on the meeting registration site. Please note the following important dates: February 28-March 1, 2013 Meeting in Washington, DC February 8, 2013: closing date for request to make oral comment February 15, 2013: closing date to request special accommodation due to a disability February 20, 2013: closing date for advance registration May 16, 2013: closing date to submit either electronic or written comments to FDA’s Division of Dockets Management; for the proposed rule on Preventive Controls see Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0920 and for the proposed rule on Produce Safety Standards see Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0921. March 11-12, 2013 Meeting in Chicago, IL February 21, 2013: Closing date for request to make oral comment February 21, 2013: Closing date to request special accommodation due to a disability March 1, 2013: Closing date for advance registration May 16, 2013: closing Date to submit either electronic or written comments to FDA’s Division of Dockets Management; for the proposed rule on Preventive Controls see Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0920 and for the proposed rule on Produce Safety Standards see Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0921 March 27-28, 2013 Meeting in Portland, OR March 8, 2013: Closing date for request to make oral comment March 8, 2013: Closing date to request special accommodation due to a disability March 18, 2013: Closing date for advance registration May 16, 2013: closing Date to submit either electronic or written comments to FDA’s Division of Dockets Management; for the proposed rule on Preventive Controls see Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0920 and for the proposed rule on Produce Safety Standards see Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0921
