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    Food Labeling; Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food in Vending Machines; Proposed Rule

    May 19, 2011
    SUMMARY: To implement the vending machine labeling provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing requirements for providing calorie information for certain articles of food sold from vending machines.

    AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
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    SUMMARY: To implement the vending machine labeling provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing requirements for providing calorie information for certain articles of food sold from vending machines. The Affordable Care Act, in part, amended the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to, among other things, require that for an article of food sold from a vending machine that does not permit a prospective purchaser to examine the Nutrition Facts Panel before purchasing the article, or does not otherwise provide visible nutrition information at the point of purchase, and is operated by a person engaged in the business of owning or operating 20 or more vending machines, the vending machine operator must disclose the number of calories for the article of food. Vending machine operators not subject to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act may elect to be subject to the Federal requirements by registering with FDA. Providing calorie disclosures for food sold from vending machines would assist consumers in making healthier dietary choices.

    DATES: Submit either written or electronic comments on the proposed rule by July 5, 2011. Submit comments on the information collection issues under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 by May 6, 2011, (see the ``Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995'' section of this document).

    ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FDA-2011-F-0171 and/or RIN 0910-AG56, by any of the following methods, except that comments on information collection issues under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 must be submitted to the Office of Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (see the ``Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995'' section of this document).

    Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

    Written Submissions

    Submit written submissions in the following ways: FAX: 301-827-6870. Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket number and Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For additional information on submitting comments, see the ``Comments'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

    For more information about the docket or to read the full text, go to: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/2011-8037.htm.