U.S. Department of Agriculture

Washington, D.C. 20250

 DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION

Number:

1042-128

SUBJECT: Dietary Guidelines Advisory

Committee

DATE:

September 23, 1999

OPI: Agricultural Research Service

  

1 PURPOSE

a Public Law 101-445, Section 301 (7 U.S.C. 5341)directs the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue jointly at least every 5 years a report entitled Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The law instructs that this publication shall contain nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public, shall be based on the preponderance of scientific and medical knowledge current at the time of publication, and shall be promoted by each Federal agency in carrying out any Federal food, nutrition, or health program. Issued voluntarily by USDA and HHS in 1980, 1985, and 1990, the 1995 edition was the first statutorily mandated report.

b The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (the Committee) is established for the single, time-limited task of reviewing the 1995 edition of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans and determining if, on the basis of current scientific and medical knowledge, revision is warranted. If so, the Committee will develop recommendations for revisions in a report to the Secretaries of USDA and HHS.

 

2 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS/CANCELLATION

a If the Committee deems a revision to be unwarranted, the Committee will terminate. If the Committee deems revision to be warranted, then the Committee will continue until the revision is completed. In accordance with Department regulations, unless renewed, the Committee will terminate two years from the date of establishment.

b DR 1042-128 date October 2, 1997, is hereby superseded.

c This regulation will expire two years from the date of filing.

 

3 OFFICERS AND MEMBERSHIP

a The Committee shall consist of no more than 11 members, including a chairperson, jointly agreed upon by the Secretaries of USDA and HHS. All members should be knowledgeable of current scientific research in human nutrition, and be respected and published experts in their fields. They should be familiar with the purpose and application of the Dietary Guidelines and have demonstrated interest in the public=s health and well-being through their research and/or educational endeavors.

b Members shall be invited to serve for two years and may be reappointed to the Committee.

c Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, will be followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

 

4 DUTIES

a The Committee shall advise the Secretaries of USDA and HHS if revisions in the 1995 edition of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans are warranted and, if so, shall recommend revisions to the Secretaries. This publication is the basis of the food and nutrition education activities and policies carried out by USDA and HHS.

b The Committee, whose duties are solely advisory and time-limited, will:

(1) Examine the 1995 edition of the Dietary Guidelines in light of new scientific evidence and current resource documents, including results of research on consumer understanding and use of the bulletin and Dietary Guidelines concepts, and determine whether there is sufficient evidence for modifying any of the seven Dietary Guidelines or the text describing them.

(2) If the Committee decides that no changes are necessary, the Committee will so inform the Secretaries of the Departments. This action will terminate the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

c If the Committee decides that changes are warranted, the Committee will proceed to recommend specific revisions. These changes and the rationale for these changes will be submitted in a report to the Secretaries.

 

5 ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COST

Committee members shall not receive compensation for their service but shall be paid travel and per diem expenses in accordance with standard travel regulations. The estimated annual cost of operating the Committee is $120,000 and 1.5 person-year of staff support. USDA will solely be responsible for the operating cost.

 

6 NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

a Meetings shall be held 2 to 3 times a year at the call of the Chair with the advance approval of a government official, who shall also approve the agenda. A government official shall be present at all meetings.

b Meetings will be conducted as open meetings with records of the proceedings kept as required by applicable laws and Departmental regulations. Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.

 

7 REPORTS/AGENCY SUPPORT

a The Committee shall prepare a report to the Secretaries of USDA and HHS by June 2000 that documents any recommended revisions to the 1995 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the rationale for such revisions.

 

b The USDA agencies, Agricultural Research Service and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, respectively under the mission areas of REE and FNCS, will be responsible for administrative support to the Committee. Both agencies and the Office of Public Health and Science of HHS will appoint Co-Executive Secretaries to the Committee to provide technical staff support.

 

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