Call for CommentsIFT encourages advocacy for food science & technology by providing you the opportunity for public comment.
FDA issues draft guidance for industry: “Assessing the Effects of Significant Manufacturing Changes….”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidance on April 25 that discusses considerations and recommendations for assessing the impact of a significant manufacturing process change on the safety and regulatory status of a food substance. IFT is considering the potential for a comment in response to the "Draft Guidance for Industry: Assessing the Effects of Significant Manufacturing Process Changes, Including Emerging Technologies, on the Safety and Regulatory Status of Food Ingredients and Food Contact Substances, Including Food Ingredients that are Color Additives." Please provide any thoughts or detailed input for consideration to Rosie Newsome (rlnewsome@ift.org) by Fri., May 18.
Food and Drug Administration seeking comments on recordkeeping requirements: IFT seeking member input
The January 13 Federal Register (Volume 76 Number 9 pp 2396-2397) published notice of "Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Recordkeeping and Records Access Requirements for Food Facilities". Within the notice, FDA states that with respect to the recordkeeping requirements of the Bioterrorism Act, "FDA estimates that approximately 379,493 facilities will spend 13.228 hours collecting, recording, and checking for accuracy the limited amount of additional information required by the regulations, for a total of 5,020,000 hours annually." IFT has addressed these requirements in our traceability related publications (www.ift.org/traceability), and seeks input from members regarding how their use of technology affects this burden. IFT members interested in providing input into IFT's comments should contact Dr. Jennifer McEntire at jmcentire@ift.org by March 1, 2011.
Updated comments sought on 1997 GRAS-related proposed rule
The Food and Drug Administration announced in the Dec. 28 Federal Register reopening of a comment period for the proposed rule, initially published in April, 1997, that would replace the voluntary petition process to affirm the GRAS status of a substance with a voluntary notification procedure. The deadline for submitting comments to the Agency is Mar. 28. IFT plans to submit comment to the Agency, and seeks input on this item. Please provide input to Rosie Newsome, IFT Director of Science & Policy Initiatives, via rnewsome@ift.org or 312-604-0228 as soon as possible before Fri. Mar. 11.
Food and Drug Administration to hold meeting of Food Advisory Committee to discuss food colors: IFT seeks input and experts
The Dec. 1 Federal Register (Vol. 75, No. 230, pp. 74735 – 74736) published notice of a Food Advisory Committee meeting to discuss whether available relevant data demonstrate a link between children's consumption of synthetic food color additives and adverse effects on behavior. The meeting will be held Mar. 30 - 31 in Silver Spring, Maryland and is open to the public. Those interested may submit data, information, or views in writing or verbally during the meeting. IFT plans to develop written comments and participate in the meeting. IFT seeks input on this subject and expressions of interest from individuals having expertise in food colors, use in foods, and health-related impacts. Please contact Rosie Newsome (rlnewsome@ift.org) if you wish to contribute input or serve as an expert.