[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8276]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 64 / Monday, April 5, 1999 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 16364]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 340

[Docket No. 99-025-1]


Regulatory Requirements for Genetically Engineered Organisms; 
Customer Service Meeting

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service will hold a meeting to discuss the current and 
future status of the regulatory requirements pertaining to the 
introduction of genetically engineered organisms and products. The 
meeting, which is open to the public, will be operated as a customer 
service workshop. We request that interested persons register and 
submit agenda items two weeks before the meeting date.

PLACE, DATES, AND TIME OF MEETING: The meeting will be held in the 
Conference Center at the USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, 
Riverdale, MD, on Tuesday, May 11, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 
p.m., and Wednesday, May 12, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the agenda, 
contact Dr. Sivramiah Shantharam, Biotechnology and Biological 
Analysis, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1236; (301) 734-4882; e-mail: [email protected]. To register 
for the meeting and to submit suggested agenda items, contact Ms. Kay 
Peterson at (301) 734-4885; fax: (301) 734-8910; e-mail: 
[email protected]. Information is also available on the Internet at 
the APHIS World Wide Web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotech.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, 
``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through 
Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to 
Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among other things, the 
introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the 
environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through 
genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to 
believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered organisms and 
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' Before introducing a 
regulated article, a person is required under Sec. 340.0 of the 
regulations to either notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) in accordance with Sec. 340.3 or obtain a permit in 
accordance with Sec. 340.4. The regulations in Sec. 340.6 provide that 
any person may submit a petition to APHIS seeking a determination that 
an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340 and allow the 
extension of a previously issued determination of nonregulated status 
to certain additional regulated articles.

    To provide an opportunity for a general discussion of the 
requirements for the preparation of notifications, permits, petitions, 
and requests for extensions of determinations of nonregulated status, 
APHIS has scheduled a workshop to be held in Riverdale, MD, on May 11 
and 12, 1999. Additional items for consideration include the status of 
a pilot program designed to reduce the paperwork burden for the 
regulated public, proposals to simplify the existing regulations, and 
the movement of commodities containing genetically engineered organisms 
in international trade.

    The tentative agenda for the meeting is as follows: Day 1, 
morning--notifications and permits; afternoon--petitions and 
extensions; Day 2, morning--international harmonization.

    To register, submit your name, address, telephone number, and e-
mail address to the person indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. We request that you register and submit suggested agenda items 
by April 28, 1999.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of March 1999.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-8276 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P