[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 165 (Friday, August 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 43520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21490]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 165 / Friday, August 23, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43520]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[TM-96-00-2]


Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: September 18, 1996 at 12:30 p.m. through September 20, 1996 at 5 
p.m. for the NOSB.

PLACE: Radisson Hotel City Centre, 31 Ohio Street, Indianapolis, 
Indiana 46204. Phone: (317) 635-2000. All meetings of the NOSB will be 
held at that address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Harold S. Ricker, Staff Director, 
NOSB, Room 2945 South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS, 
Transportation and Marketing Division, National Program Staff, Post 
Office Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. Phone (202) 720-3252.

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 Board 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 subcommittees to work on various aspects of the 
program. The subcommittees are: Crops Standards; Processing, Labelling 
and Packaging; Livestock Standards; Accreditation; and International 
Issues. At the last meeting, the NOSB continued the review of 
substances for consideration for the National List as allowed 
synthetics for use in organic production and processing. Technical 
advisory panels provided information on approximately 78 substances for 
NOSB consideration. The NOSB reviewed the materials and determined 
whether they would be considered non-synthetic or synthetic. If 
synthetic, then the NOSB determined whether they should be placed on 
the list of allowed synthetic substances for use in organic processing 
and production. Approximately 45 substances were placed on the allowed 
synthetic list. Others were determined to be non-synthetic or required 
more information.

Purpose and Agenda

    The main focus of this meeting is to continue the discussion of 
additional materials for consideration for placement on the National 
List of allowed synthetics and prohibited natural substances for use in 
organic production and processing of organic foods. Main emphasis will 
be placed on the review of approximately 30 substances for which a 
review has been conducted by the technical advisory panel. Additional 
topics to be covered in the full NOSB meeting include: cotton dyes and 
biotechnology.
    A final agenda will be available on September 3, 1996. Persons 
requesting copies should contact Ms. Karen Thomas at the above address 
or phone (202) 720-3252.

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 forward the request to 
Harold S. Ricker at the above address or FAX to (202) 690-3924 by 
September 13, 1996, in order to be scheduled. The NOSB has scheduled 
time for public input on Wednesday, September 18, 1996, beginning at 
1:00 p.m. and continuing until 5:30 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 16 copies of written material 
elaborating on those issues for the NOSB.

    Dated: August 19, 1996.
Eileen S. Stommes,
Director, Transportation and Marketing Division.
[FR Doc. 96-21490 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M