CFSAN `To Do' List Open for Public Comment

WASHINGTON--In the June 5 Federal Register, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will request comments for how to establish program priorities for its Center for Food Safety and Nutrition (CFSAN) during fiscal 2004 (FY04), which occurs between Oct. 1, 2003, and Sept. 30, 2004. The comment period is open for 60 days after publication.

On March 10, CFSAN released its 2003 program priorities based on input received from stakeholders while keeping in mind its central purpose: Where will it do the most good for consumers? During FY03, CFSAN focused primarily on ensuring the security of the food supply after the June 2002 enactment of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act. It also began an initiative to enhance its nutrition program, launched December 2002, entitled "Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition."

For FY04, the center will continue to keep food security as a top priority, followed by issues that include efficient risk management, patient and consumer safety, and better informed consumers. Priorities specific to the dietary supplement industry for FY03 included publishing a proposed rule for dietary supplement good manufacturing pracitices (GMPs), conducting outreach on the proposed rule for dietary supplement GMPs, developing a strategy for dietary supplements that contain ephedrine alkaloids and developing a regulatory guidebook for the industry.

Written comments should be directed to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Electronic comments can be submitted to www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Questions can be directed to CFSAN's Donald Carrington at [email protected].