Prior Notice of Imported Food Under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002; Reopening of Comment Period

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening for 30 days the comment period for FDA's prior notice interim final rule (IFR) that published in the Federal Register of October 10, 2003 (68 FR 58974). The prior notice interim final rule requires the submission to FDA of prior notice of food, including animal feed, that is imported or offered for import into the United States. FDA is taking this action consistent with its statement in the preamble of the prior notice IFR (68 FR 58974 at 59023) that it would reopen the comment period for an additional 30 days in March 2004, to ensure that those who comment on this interim final rule would have had the benefit of our outreach and education efforts and would have had some experience with the systems, timeframes, and data elements of the prior notice system.