FDA Eyes Special Regs for Functional Foods

WASHINGTON--The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has planned a public hearing for Dec. 5, 2006, during which the agency will welcome comments and reactions to a proposal to develop special regulations for certain conventional foods currently marketed as functional foods. During the meeting, FDA will review its existing regulations governing functional foods as well as discuss ways to regulate them going forward. Anyone interested in making an oral presentation during the meeting must provide notice to FDA by Nov. 14 and must submit the full text, an outline or a summary of the presentation by Nov. 28, the same day by which all other comments for the meeting must be submitted. FDA will accept written comments on the topic until Jan. 5, 2007. For more information on the meeting, visit www.fda.gov.