SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, the Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure that fair practices are used in trade.

The CCSCH is responsible for elaborating worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs in their dried and dehydrated state in whole, ground, and cracked or crushed form. The CCSCH consults as necessary with other international organizations in the standards development process to avoid duplication.

The CCSCH is hosted by India.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

The following items on the Agenda for the 3rd Session of the CCSCH will be discussed during the public meeting:

• Matters Referred by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its Subsidiary bodies;
• Activities of International Organizations relevant to the Work of CCSCH;
• Draft Standard for Cumin;
• Draft Standard for Thyme;
• Proposed draft Standard for Black, White and Green Pepper;
• Proposed draft Standard for Oregano;
• Sampling plans for cumin and thyme;
• Further work on grouping of spices and culinary herbs;
• Discussion paper on glossary of terms for spices and culinary herbs;
• Discussion paper on further processing (in the context of spices and culinary herbs);
• Proposal for new work (replies to CL 2015/27-SCH); and
• Other business.

Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, or to be distributed, by the Secretariat before the Meeting. Members of the public may access or request copies of these documents (see ADDRESSES ).

Public Meeting

At the January 17, 2017, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to the U.S. Delegates for the 3rd Session of the CCSCH,(see ADDRESSES ). Written comments should state that they relate to the activities of the 3rd Session of the CCSCH.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is ( printed page 90319) important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​federal-register.

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