[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15532-15533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7337]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[TM-95-00-1]


Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

DATES: April 24, 1995 at 8 a.m. through April 28, 1995 at 5 p.m. for 
the NOSB. An orientation session for new NOSB members will be held from 
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 23, 1995.

PLACE: Ramada Hotel Resort Florida Center, 7400 International Drive, 
Orlando, Florida 32829. Phone (407) 351-4600 or (800) 327-1363. All 
meetings of the NOSB for the week will be held at that address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Harold S. Ricker, Staff Director, 
NOSB, Room 4006 South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
AMS, Transportation and Marketing Division, P. O. Box 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456. Phone (202) 720-2704.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACT Act), as amended 
(7 U.S.C. Section 6501 et seq.), requires establishment of a NOSB. The 
purpose of the NOSB is to assist in the development of standards for 
substances to be used in organic production and to advise the Secretary 
on any other aspects of the implementation of Title XXI of the FACT 
Act. The NOSB met for the first time in Washington, D.C., in March 1992 
and currently has five committees to work on various aspects of the 
program. The committees are: Crops Standards; Processing, Labelling and 
Packaging; Livestock Standards; Accreditation; and International 
Issues. At its last meeting, the NOSB began the review of the botanical 
substances currently used in organic production, and determined that 
five botanicals (Neem, Pyrethrums, Rotenone, Ryania, and Sabadilla) 
should not be placed on the National List of prohibited natural 
substances. A recommendation on Nicotine and Strychnine was tabled for 
more information. The NOSB did not develop recommendations for allowed 
synthetic substances to be considered for inclusion on the National 
List except that a motion to add PBO's was defeated.

Purpose and Agenda

    The main focus of this meeting is to discuss certain substances 
that should be considered for recommendation for inclusion on the 
National List as allowed synthetic substances and continue discussion 
of certain substances that should be considered for recommendation on 
the National List as prohibited natural substances in regard to the 
organic production and processing of organic foods. It is expected that 
at least 50 synthetic substances will be presented for recommendations.
    Additional topics to be covered in the full NOSB meeting include: 
labeling for bulk agricultural products used as ingredients in organic 
foods, and bulk packs not intended for retail sale; 
[[Page 15533]] mushroom and greenhouse standards; and livestock living 
standards, parasiticides, antibiotics, and a working draft on honey.
    A final agenda will be available on April 5, 1995. Persons 
requesting copies should contact Faith Ashton at the above address or 
phone number.

Type of Meeting

    All meetings will be open to the public. Individuals and 
organizations wishing to provide written comments on these issues or to 
comment orally on any organic issues should send the request to Dr. 
Harold S. Ricker at the above address or FAXED to (202) 690-0337 by 
April 14, 1995, in order to be scheduled. The NOSB has scheduled time 
for public input on Monday, April 24, 1995, beginning at 1 p.m. and 
continuing until 5 p.m. While people may sign up to speak at the door, 
advance scheduling assures an opportunity in the time allowed and helps 
the NOSB plan its activities. Each individual or organization will be 
allocated 10 minutes for presenting orally the key issues of concern, 
and should provide copies of written material elaborating on those 
issues for the NOSB and USDA.

    Dated: March 21, 1995.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-7337 Filed 3-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P