IFCNR staff monitors the U.S. Federal Register daily and provides breaking information to members about policies, meetings, and activities impacting biotechnology issues. (Note: No postings will be made on days where items of immediate importance to biotechnology are lacking.)

Thursday, 30 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 104

Notices

Comments & Recommendations Sought on Codex Food Safety Sanitary Standards

The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service wants public comments and recommendations for new sanitary standards for the international Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX). Standards under consideration deal with foods derived from biotechnology, olive and other fats and oils, meat and poultry, chocolate, additives and contaminants, fish, fruits and vegetables as well as juices, food labeling, milk and milk products, etc. For more information contact F. Edward Scarbrough at 202.205.7760. Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, pages 37760-72.

Pre-Codex Public Meeting Scheduled

A public meeting is scheduled for July 30th to discuss information and solicit public comment on the U.S. positions being prepared for the 24th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses. This meeting will be held at the FDA’s Harvey Wiley Building in College Park, Maryland. The Codex meeting is set for November 4-8 in Berlin, Germany. For more information contact Ellen Matten at 202.205.7760. Dept. of Agriculture, FSIS, pages 37772-3.

Wednesday, 29 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 103

Rules & Regulations

Final Rule Set for Fludioxonil on Caneberries

EPA issued a time-limited tolerance for residues of the fungicide fludioxonil for caneberries (raspberries, etc.) that will expire December 31, 2003. Objections or hearing requests must carry the docket control number OPP-2002-0061. For more information contact Libby Pemberton at 703.308.9364. EPA, pages 37332-5.

Notices

Valent USA Files Pesticide Petition for Greens and Olives

Valent U.S.A. filed a pesticide petition seeking residue regulations for the use of pyriproxyfen, 2-[1-methyl-2-[4-phenoxyphenoxy]ethoxy]pyridine on crop group 5, group 9 and on olives and olive oil. The docket control number is OPP-20020-0074. For more information contact Joseph Tavano at 703.305.6411. EPA, pages 37426-32.

Friday, 24 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 101

Notices

HHS Wants Public Meeting/Comment on Hexavalent Chromium Protocols

The potential toxicity of hexavalent chromium added to animal drinking water is the reason behind requests to add it to the National Toxicology Program. The Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services is calling for a public meeting July 24 at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Public comments are also sought. Contact Dr. Mary S. Wolfe at 919.541.0530. Dept. of HHS, pages 36620-21.

Background Docs Available on 4 Substances

Background documents on Cobalt Sulfate, Diethanolamine, Nitromethane, and 4,4’-Thiodianiline are available through the National Toxicology Program. Each is being considered for inclusion in the 11th Edition of the Report on Carcinogens. Contact Dr. C.W. Jameson at 919.541.4096. Dept. of HHS, pages 36621-2.

Bayer Submits Amended Pesticide Petition

Bayer Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri submitted a petition to establish pesticide tolerances for cyfluthrin, cyano (4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropane carboxylate in or on mustard greens. Comments on the action must contain the docket control number OPP-2002-0075 and be received no later than June 24. For more information contact Susan Stanton at 703.305.6100. EPA, pages 36596-8.

Thursday, 23 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 100

Notices

MeadWestaco Files Petition for Encapsulating Ingredient

The MeadWestaco Corporation of Charleston, South Carolina has petitioned EPA to establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for 2-propenoic acid, 2 methyl-.polymer with ethyl2-propenoate and methyl2-methyl-2-2-propenate, ammonium salt when used as an inert ingredient (encapsulating agent, dispensers, resins, fibers, and beads) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or agricultural commodities after harvest. Comments on the petition must bear the docket control number OPP-2002-0034 and be received no later than June 24, 2002. For more information contact Bipin Gandhi at 703.308.8380. EPA, pages 36176-78.

Sankyo Company Petitions for Pesticide exemption.

The Sankyo company of Rio Rancho, New Mexico filed pesticide petitions with EPA regarding establishing tolerances for residues of milbemectin in or on raw agricultural commodities citrus crop. Comments must carry the docket control number OPP-2002-0038 and be received no later than June 24, 2002. For more information contact Thomas C. Harris at 703.308.9423. EPA, pages 36178-83.

Wednesday, 06 February 2002/Vol. 67, No. 23

Proposed Rules

Tolerance Revocations Proposed for Methyl and Ethyl Parathion

Due to the lack of registered uses for each compound, EPA proposes revoking residue tolerances for methyl and ethyl parathion. EPA already canceled the pesticide registrations associated with each. Comments on the proposed action must use the identifying docket control number OPP-301195 and be submitted no later than April 8th. For more information contact Laura Parsons at 703.305.5776. EPA, pages 5553-8.

EPA Set to Revoke Residue Tolerance for Oxadixyl

EPA proposed revoking the residue tolerances for the fungicide oxadixyl because the substance is no longer registered for uses in the United States. Comments on the proposed action must bear the docket control number OPP-301203 and are due by April 8th. For more information contact Joseph Nevola at 703.308.8037. EPA, pages 5548-52.

Notices

Comments Sought on Exemption Request for Tetraconazole

Requests from the Minnesota and North Dakota Departments of Agriculture seeking permission to use the new pesticide, tetraconazole, on 1,660,000 acres of sugar beets to control Cercospora leaf spot will not be processed until after the public comments period for the new compound has passed. Comments must bear the Docket Control number OPP-181084. For more information contact Andrea Conrath at 703.398.9356. EPA, pages5598-99.

Monday, 04 February 2002/Vol. 67, No. 23

Notices

APHIS Preparing EIS on Genetically Engineered Pink Bollworms

Public comments are sought on the Environmental Impact Statement being prepared the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on the effects of releasing a genetically engineered "autocidal" pink bollworm into the environment. The bollworms in question are part of an insect sterilization plan and have a green fluorescent protein derived from jellyfish. The fluorescent quality is proposed as an aid to monitoring the program. A limited amount of the bollworms are to be released in a confined experiment and in field tests in Arizona. Comments (four copies) must be postmarked, delivered or emailed by April 5th to Docket No. 01-124-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238 or regulations@aphis.usda.gov. For more information contact Stephanie Stephens at 301.734.8565. USDA, pages 5086-7.

EPA's Child Health Protection Advisory Committee to Meet

Science, regulations and other issues relating to children's environmental health are on the agenda of the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee scheduled for February 27-March 1. The meetings will be held at the Hotel Washington in Washington DC. For more information contact Joanne Rodman at 202.564.2188. EPA, page 5121.

Friday, 01 February 2002/Vol. 67, No. 22

Rules & Regulations

Tolerances Set for Bifenazate

EPA set residue tolerance levels for bifenazate and D3598 in and on raw agricultural commodities including apples, cotton, grapes, peaches, and livestock. The request for tolerance levels was made by Uniroyal Chemical Co. Objections or requests for hearings must contain the docket control number OPP-301206. For more information contact Suku Oonnithan at 703.605.0368. EPA, pages 4913-22.

Notices

President's Council on Bioethics to Discuss Human Cloning at Public Meeting

The issue of the ethics of human cloning will be the key topic of the President's Council on Bioethics second public meeting, February 13-14. The meeting will be held at Loew's L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington DC. For more information contact Deborah McMahon at 202.296.4694. Department of Health and Human Services, page 4965.