[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 54858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26511]


 ========================================================================
 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. 64, No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54858]]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[TM-00-01]


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: October 25, 1999, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; October 26, 1999, from 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 27, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and October 
28, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time each day).

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.) requires 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 of 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; 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 June 8-10, 1999, in Washington, D.C.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its proposed NOP 
rule in the Federal Register on December 16, 1997 (62 FR 65849). A 
notice extending 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, 
three issue papers for which public comment was requested by USDA were 
published in the Federal Register (63 FR 57624-57626). These papers 
addressed certain issues raised during the 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 Issue Paper 3--Termination of 
Certification by Private Certifiers. Comments received on these papers 
will be considered during the development of a revised NOP 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 review and make recommendations on 16 materials to be 
included on the proposed National List. The 16 materials are: Crop 
Production Materials: Potassium Bicarbonate (only for control of crop 
disease); Amino Acids (for use in soil fertility management); and 
Ethylene (only with activated charcoal for pineapple fruit induction). 
Livestock Production Materials: Glycerin (only as a topical 
antiseptic); Lanolin Creme (only as a topical antiseptic); Phosphoric 
Acid (as a sanitizer); Amino Acids (as feed additives); Chlorhexidine 
(only as a teat dip); Enzymes (as feed additives); and Parasiticides 
(such as Fenbenadazole, Lvermectin, and Levasole). Processing 
Materials: Amino Acids; Plant and Yeast Enzymes; Ethylene (only for use 
on tropical dried fruit); Waxes (including shellac, beeswax, and 
ammonium soaps); Magnesium Chloride (natural and refined) and Phospolic 
Acid (as a sanitizer). Copies of the NOSB meeting agenda can be 
requested from Mrs. Toni Strother, Room 2510-South Building, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, AMS, T&M, NOP, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, 
D.C. 20090-6456, by phone at (202) 720-3252 or by accessing the NOP 
website at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop after October 7, 1999.

Type of Meeting

    All meetings will be open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled 
time for public input on Monday, October 25, 1999, from 1:15 p.m. until 
5:00 p.m. in Room 3501-So. Individuals and organizations wishing to 
make an oral presentation at the meeting should forward the request to 
Mrs. Strother at the above address or by FAX to (202) 205-7808 by close 
of business October 21, 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 
Mrs. Strother after the meeting at the above address. All persons 
submitting written comments should provide 20 copies.

    Dated: October 6, 1999.
Eileen S. Stommes,
Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.
[FR Doc. 99-26511 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P