Request for Nominations on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting that any industry organizations interested in participating in the selection of a nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers to serve on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee for the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), notify FDA in writing. FDA is also requesting nominations for a nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers to serve on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, and an alternate to this representative. A nominee may either be self-nominated or nominated by an organization to serve as a nonvoting industry representative. Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies effective with this notice.

DATES:

Any industry organization interested in participating in the selection of an appropriate nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers must send a letter stating that interest to the FDA by August 31, 2016 (see sections I and II of this document for further details). Concurrently, nomination materials for prospective candidates should be sent to FDA by August 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

All statements of interest from industry organizations interested in participating in the selection process should be sent to Caryn Cohen (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). All nominations for nonvoting industry representatives should be submitted electronically by accessing the FDA Advisory Committee Membership Nomination Portal at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/FACTRSPortal/FACTRS/index.cfm or by mail to Advisory Committee Oversight and Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 32, Rm. 5103, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Information about becoming a member of an FDA advisory committee can also be obtained by visiting FDA's Web site at: http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/default.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Caryn Cohen, Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products, Document Control Center, Bldg. 71, Rm. G335, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 1-877-287-1373 (choose Option 5), email: TPSAC@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Agency intends to add nonvoting industry representatives to the following advisory committee:

I. CTP Advisory Committee

Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (the Committee) advises the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (the Commissioner) or designee in discharging responsibilities related to the regulation of tobacco products. The Committee reviews and evaluates safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and provides appropriate advice, information, and recommendations to the Commissioner.

II. Selection Procedure

Any industry organization interested in participating in the selection of an appropriate nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers should send a letter stating that interest to the FDA contact (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) within 30 days of publication of this document (see DATES). Within the subsequent 30 days, FDA will send a letter to each organization that has expressed an interest, attaching a complete list of all such organizations; and a list of all nominees along with their current resumes. The letter will also state that it is the responsibility of the interested organizations to confer with one another and to select a candidate, within 60 days after the receipt of the FDA letter, to serve as the nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers for the committee. The interested organizations are not bound by the list of nominees in selecting a candidate. However, if no individual is selected within 60 days, the Commissioner will select the nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers.

III. Application Procedure

Individuals may self-nominate and/or an organization may nominate one or more individuals to serve as a nonvoting member to represent the interests of tobacco growers. Contact information, current curriculum vitae, and the name of the committee of interest should be sent to the FDA Advisory Committee Membership Nomination Portal (see ADDRESSES) within 30 days of publication of this document (see DATES). FDA will forward all nominations to the organizations expressing interest in participating in the selection process for the committee. (Persons who nominate themselves as nonvoting industry representatives will not participate in the selection process.)

FDA seeks to include the views of women and men, members of all racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with and without disabilities on its advisory committees and, therefore encourages nominations of appropriately qualified candidates from these groups.

This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2) and 21 CFR part 14, relating to advisory committees.