[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3675-3676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1646]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[TM-99-00-1]
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: February 9, 1999, at 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; February 10, 1999,
from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and February 11, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m.
PLACE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Room 3501 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250. Phone: (202) 720-
3252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Jones, Program Manager, Room
2945 South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS,
Transportation and Marketing, National Organic Program, P.O. Box 96456,
Washington, D.C. 20090-6456 Phone (202) 720-3252.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518) of the Organic
Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. Section 6501
et seq.) Reqires the establishment of the 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
the implementation of OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in
Washington, D.C., in March 1992 and currently has six committees
working on various aspects of the program. The committees are: Crops
Standards; Processing; Labeling and Packaging; Livestock Standards;
Accreditation; Materials; and International Issues. In August 1994, the
NOSB provided its initial recommendations for the National Organic
Program (NOP) to the Secretary of Agriculture and since that time has
submitted 30 addenda to the recommendations and reviewed more than 170
substances for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited
Substances. The last meeting of the NOSB was held October 27-29,1998,
in Washington, DC. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its
proposed rule in the Federal Register on December 16, 1997 (62 FR
65849). An extension of the comment period on the proposed rule was
published in the Federal Register on February 9, 1998 (63 FR 6498-
6499). The comment period was extended until April 30, 1998. On October
28, 1998, the USDA published for public comment three issue papers in
the Federal Register (63 FR 57624-57626) The papers addressed certain
issues raised during the National Organic Program's proposed rule
comment period. The issue papers were: Issue paper 1. Livestock
Confinement in Organic Production Systems; Issue Paper 2. The Use of
Antibiotics and Parasiticides in Organic Livestock Production; and
Paper 3. Termination of Certification by Private Certifiers. Comments
received on these papers will be considered during the development of a
revised National Organic Program proposed rule. The comment period for
the issue papers closed December 14, 1998.
Purpose and Agenda
The principal purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity
for the NOSB to receive committee reports from its standing and ad hoc
committees and to engage working sessions to address issues resulting
from the October 1998 NOSB meeting. These issues include, but are not
limited to, the International Committee's proposed recommendation on
Fumigation, the Livestock Committee's proposed recommendation on Wild
Animals, the Accreditation Committee's proposed recommendation on
Enforcement Actions, the Interdisciplinary Taskforce's proposal on
processing principles and the NOSB's request for comment on criteria
for the acceptance of materials used in processing. Additionally, the
Agency will give a status report on the proposed rule and characterize
for the NOSB public comment on the option papers. Copies of committee
proposals can be requested from Ms. Karen Thomas, Room 2510 South
Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS,
[[Page 3676]]
Transportation and Marketing, National Organic Program, P.O. Box 96456,
Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, by phone at (202) 690-3655 or by accessing
the NOP website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop after January 19, 1999.
Type of Meeting
All meetings will be open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled
time for public input on February 9, 1999, from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00
p.m. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral presentation
at the meeting should forward the request to Ms. Thomas at the above
address or by FAX to (202) 205-7808 by close of business February 5,
1999. While persons wishing to make a presentation may sign up at the
door, advance registration will ensure an opportunity to speak during
that allotted time period and will help the NOSB to better manage the
meeting and accomplish its agenda. Individuals or organizations will be
given approximately 5 minutes to present their views. All persons
making an oral presentation are requested to provide their comments in
writing, if possible. Written submissions may supplement the oral
presentation with additional material. Attendees who do not wish to
make an oral presentation are invited to submit written comments to the
NOSB at the meeting or to Ms. Thomas after the meeting at the above
address. All persons submitting written comments should provide 20
copies.
Dated: January 20, 1999.
Eileen S. Stommes,
Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.
[FR Doc. 99-1646 Filed 1-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P