[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64657-64658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27896]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[TM-00-10]


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: November 15, 2000, from 2:00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.; November 16, 
2000, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and November 17, 2000, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 
p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time each day).

PLACE: The Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 1800 M 
Street, NW, Waugh Auditorium, 3rd Floor Room, Washington, DC. 
Telephone: (202) 694-5103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Jones, Program Manager, National 
Organic Program, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, Room 2945-So., Ag Stop 0268, P.O. 
Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, Telephone: (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 make recommendations about whether a substance should be 
allowed or prohibited in organic production or

[[Page 64658]]

handling, 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 five committees 
working on various aspects of the program. The committees are: 
Accreditation, Crops, Livestock, Materials, and Processing.
    In August of 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations 
for the National Organic Program (NOP) to the Secretary of Agriculture. 
Since that time the NOSB has submitted 30 addenda to its 
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 on June 6-8, 2000, in Washington, DC.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its re-proposed 
National Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register on March 
13, 2000 (65 FR 13512). Comments were accepted until June 12, 2000. 
Forty thousand seven hundred and seventy four (40,774) comments were 
received during the comment period.

Purpose and Agenda

    The principal purposes of this meeting are to provide an 
opportunity for the NOSB to: receive committee reports; receive an 
update from the Aquatic Task Force Working Group; receive an update 
from the USDA/NOP; and review materials for possible inclusion on, or 
removal from, the National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. 
Materials to be reviewed at the meeting are periacetic acid, calcium 
borogluconate, animal enzymes, leather meal and sodium chlorate. For 
further information see http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Copies of the NOSB 
meeting agenda can be requested from Mrs. Toni Strother, USDA-AMS-TMP-
NOP, Room 2510-So., Ag Stop 0268, 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.

Type of Meeting

    This meeting is open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for 
public input on Wednesday, November 15, 2000, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:30 
p.m. at the USDA Economic Research Service, 1800 M Street, NW, South 
Tower, Waugh Auditorium, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036. Telephone: 
(202) 694-5103. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the meeting should forward their request to Mrs. Toni 
Strother at the above address or by FAX to (202) 205-7808 by close of 
business November 13, 2000. While persons wishing to make a 
presentation may sign up at the door, advance registration will ensure 
an opportunity to speak during the 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 contain information other than presented at the oral 
presentation. Written comments may be submitted to the NOSB at the 
meeting or to Mrs. Strother after the meeting at the above address.

    Dated: October 26, 2000.
James A. Caron,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.
[FR Doc. 00-27896 Filed 10-27-00; 12:31 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P