HHS NEWS

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
 
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS             Judith Foulke    (202) 205-4144
March 24, 1997                     
                                  Consumer Hotline:(800) 532-4440
 
   PRESIDENT'S FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCED
 
     The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) will convene a meeting on March 31 to April 2, 1997,
to discuss and develop for the President a comprehensive plan for
reducing foodborne illness by enhancing the safety of the
nation's food supply.
     The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on
Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001.
     This upcoming meeting will focus on issues that have been
identified as key elements of the Presidential Initiative by the
four lead govermment agencies undertaking this effort -- USDA's
Food Safety and Inspection Service, HHS's Food and Drug
Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
and EPA.  The seven major areas that will be dicussed include:
surveillance, risk assessment, research, inspection, education,
coordination, and strategic planning.
     Time will be allotted for public comment followed by
concurrent breakout sessions on these major issues during the
March 31 and April 1 sessions.
     On April 2, the sessions will include reports from each of
the breakout sessions and public comment.
      In order to facilitate discussion, the four agencies
encourage individuals to submit written comments on a draft
report distributed at a preliminary meeting held on March 5, and
any additional suggestions for improving the nation's food
safety, by March 28 to:
     USDA/FSIS Hearing Clerk, Room 3806 South Building,
Washington, DC, 0250-3700, Docket No. 97-024N; or
     Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administra
tion, 12420 Parklawn Drive, Room 1-23, Rockville, MD, 20857,
Docket No. 97N-0074.
     The comment period will remain open until April 4, 1997.
     To register for the meeting contact Ms. Traci Phebus at
(202) 501-7138, FAX (202) 501-7642, E-mail HACCP.Confer@USDA.GOV.
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