FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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USDA - 1294 - National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1294
Original Establishment Date	3/18/1988	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	2/20/2025	Committee URL	https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/advisory-commi...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	30
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	2/21/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Kristal
Date Of Renewal Charter	2/21/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Southern
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	EO 14217	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	2029374162
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	5 U.S.C. 10	Designated Federal Officer Email*	kristal.southern@usda.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	3/18/1988
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) provided impartial scientific advice to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other government agencies on microbiological and public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply. The purpose of the Committee was accomplished by working together and providing advice contained in the Committee’s final adopted reports. NACMCF reports provided current scientific information needed to answer agency questions and served to support the foundation for regulations and programs aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health. In addition to posting the final reports on the NACMCF webpage, they may be published in a peer-reviewed journal to share the advice and recommendations with the broader scientific community. Building scientific consensus in this manner also built confidence and helped to pave the way for buy-in amongst food industry professionals on risk mitigation strategies.
How is membership balanced?*	The NACMCF allowed our federal food safety agencies to collaborate with the highest level of scientific expertise who are often world renowned and at the top of their fields. The Committee consisted of renowned expert microbiologists, food scientists, epidemiologists, risk assessors, and allied scientists from industry, academia, federal and state governments, and other organizations, including a consumer organization, to ensure that the membership was balanced among a range of scientific interests. Geographic location of the experts was also considered to provide balanced perspectives from multiple regions of the U.S.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The NACMCF full committee met once or more per year to address specific scientific and technical questions posed by the sponsoring agencies. The subcommittees met as deemed necessary by the DFO and Chair.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The NACMCF was the only federal advisory committee focused solely on the microbiological aspects of food safety. The Committee helped protect public health by generating food safety advice and recommendations for U.S. food safety programs, the food industry, and consumers. Food safety is complex, and the Committee allowed federal food safety agencies to collaborate with scientific experts and to obtain outside expertise on food safety issues that represented the scientific perspective, experience, and point-of-view of all stakeholders. The NACMCF was an important source of specialized scientific and technical advice to support decision-making and recommendations that could be incorporated into Agency programs and beyond. The Committee’s purpose and organization provided a unique opportunity to assist federal sponsors in meeting their statutory responsibilities and served as an excellent forum for the public to share and receive input on food safety and public health issues related to the microbiological criteria for foods. There was a synergistic aspect to idea generation by bringing these experts together on a specific topic as opposed to trying to reach them individually. The Committee reinforced scientific rigor and transparency. NACMCF provided the participating federal food safety agencies and the American public a source of impartial and trusted scientific advice and transparency in the development of an integrated national food safety systems approach.
Why close or partially close meetings?	There were no closed meetings
Recommendation Remarks	The NACMCF provided scientific advice to U.S. food safety programs. The Committee served to enhance the safety of our nation's food supply, which was in the public interest, and assisted the federal sponsors in meeting their statutory responsibilities. In fiscal year (FY) 2025, the Committee did not hold a plenary meeting. The last plenary meeting was held in FY 2024 on September 24, 2025. The 2023-2025 term committee conducted work on a Genomics charge designed to provide advice to FSIS on the use of pathogen virulence data and a charge on Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula for the Food and Drug Administration. However, per Executive Order 14127, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and the Secretary Memorandum 1078-002, Elimination of Federal Advisory Committees within the Department of Agriculture, the committee was terminated on February 20, 2025, prior to completing and adopting their final reports and recommendations. The termination action is consistent with the President's Executive Order and pursuant to the Secretary’s authority under 41 CFR 102-3.55(a)(2), and all other applicable laws.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The Committee provided impartial scientific advice to participating federal food safety agencies that helped to support decision-making that is sound, science-based and resulted in public health protection and improvement.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The Committee's contributions to food safety programs were critical to public health protection for which we did not have the data to ascertain a specific dollar amount.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	249	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	No change from FY23. The Committee began working on new charges in FY24 and due to the Committee termination, charges were not completed in FY25.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	81.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	No change from FY23. The Committee began working on new charges in FY24 and due to the Committee termination, charges were not completed in FY25. Approximately 81% of NACMCF recommendations have been fully implemented. NACMCF recommendations and advice were transferred to participating food safety agencies through detailed scientific reports.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	16.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	No change from FY23. The Committee began working on new charges in FY24 and due to the Committee termination, charges were not completed in FY25. Approximately 16% of NACMCF recommendations have been partially implemented. NACMCF recommendations and advice were transferred to participating food safety agencies through detailed scientific reports.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Information also provided through Agency Docket Office and an electronic Constituent update list-serve for stakeholders.
Agency Feedback Comment*	USDA and the other NACMCF government agencies provided reports with feedback to the Committee on how the recommendations were being used to improve their food safety programs and regulations. The Committee's valuable contributions to food safety were also acknowledged at public meetings.	Narrative Description*	The NACMCF was a discretionary advisory committee that was established in 1988 by the Secretary of Agriculture, after consulting with the Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Committee was formed in response to the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to provide an interagency approach to microbiological criteria, given that numerous federal, state, and local agencies are responsible for food safety. NACMCF was pivotal in developing the Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Rule in 1996 that made HACCP the foundation of meat, poultry and eventually egg products production. The NACMCF provided impartial scientific advice and recommendations to the USDA and other government agencies on microbiological and public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply. NACMCF supported the food safety and public health protection programs of the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and HHS’ Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other food safety agencies such as the US Department of Commerce’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and the US Department of Defense's Veterinary Services also benefited from NACMCF recommendations. NACMCF’s scientific advice has been applied to USDA food safety programs that are aligned with the FSIS mission and strategic plan. In addition, NACMCF scientific information has been applied to facilitate trade through CODEX publications. The NACMCF charter maintained that five members would include Regular Government Employees (RGEs) that represented the five federal agencies concerned with food safety in NACMCF. Per Executive Order 14127, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and the Secretary Memorandum 1078-002, Elimination of Federal Advisory Committees within the Department of Agriculture, dated February 20, 2025, the Committee was terminated, and all ongoing work was stopped. The termination action is consistent with the President's Executive Order and pursuant to the Secretary’s authority under 41 CFR 102-3.55(a)(2), and all other applicable laws.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$12,000.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$24,000.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$0.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$36,000.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/18/2025 8:42 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	1.40	Est Cost Remarks	The Committee was terminated on 2/20/2025 and will not incur costs in the next fiscal year.
Cost Remarks	Payments to Federal Members refers to salary expenses for RGEs time working on the Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula and genomics charges from October 1, 2024-February 20, 2025. Payments to Federal Staff refer to salary expenses for federal staff member time performing duties within the scope of this Committee from October 1, 2024-February 20, 2025. Duties included finalizing the FY 2024 end of year meeting travel, records management, managing the FY 2025-2027 member nomination solicitation and review process, managing the new charge development process, completing quarterly and annual reporting, and the managing the Committee termination process. No separate or supplemental compensation or payments were made to staff for their work on the Committee.

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Agriculture Applied Science Applied Sciences Basic Science Biology Microbiology Food and Drugs Food and Drugs Health Safety Medicine Illnesses Science and Technology Science and Technology

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