[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