[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27625-27626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12685]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2001 / Notices  

[[Page 27625]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[TM-01-04]


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) is announcing a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

DATES: June 6, 2001, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and June 7, 2001, from 
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Central Time).
    Place: Best Western Midway Hotel, 1835 Rose Street, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin 54603. Telephone: (608) 781-7000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mathews, Acting Program 
Manager, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, P.O. Box 96456, 
Room 2945-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 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. 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 handling, to assist in the 
development of standards for substances to be used in organic 
production and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in Washington, 
DC, in March 1992 and currently has five committees working on various 
aspects of the organic 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 189 substances for inclusion on 
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The last 
meeting of the NOSB was held on March 6-7, 2001, in Buena Park, CA.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its final National 
Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000 
(65 FR 80548). The rule became effective April 21, 2001.

Purpose and Agenda

    The principal purposes of the meeting are to provide an opportunity 
for the NOSB to: receive various committee reports; receive updates 
from the Aquatic Task Force Working Group, the Task Force on Board 
Policy for Expert Presentations, and the Task Force on Outreach to 
Producers; receive an update from the USDA/NOP; review materials to 
determine if they should be included on the National List of Approved 
and Prohibited Substances; hear a presentation from the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) on pesticide product labeling; and hear a 
presentation from the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA on trade 
issues.
    The Livestock Committee will present a recommendation to the NOSB 
on ``access to pasture.'' The Processing Committee will seek from the 
NOSB adoption of its recommendation for clarifying the materials for 
which a petition must be submitted requesting a review of a material 
for inclusion on the National List of substances allowed or prohibited 
for use in organic production and handling; discuss what ``novel'' 
processes will be allowed in organic handling; and discuss potential 
mislabeling issues that might arise in regard to products produced by 
uncertified processors. The Crops Committee will present a draft 
guidance document on compost tea and vermiculture; draft 
recommendations for greenhouse standards; draft recommendations for 
mushroom standards; and discuss transitional organic labeling and 
transitional organic operations. The Accreditation Committee will seek 
adoption of a plan for a Peer Review Panel; make recommendations about 
what issues guidance should be provided about on the NOP Website; 
present a new certifier outreach report; and discuss the committee's 
draft ``Principles of Organic Production and Handling.'' The Materials 
Committee will present its materials decision matrix for adoption by 
the Board, review materials for possible inclusion on the National List 
of Allowed or Prohibited Substances; seek adoption of a policy for 
updating the National List; and review committee communications with 
the Organic industry.
    Materials to be reviewed at the meeting by the NOSB are as follows: 
for Livestock production: DL-Methionine (including, DL-Methionine 
Hydroxy Analog and Hydroxy Analog Calcium); for Crops: Monocalcium 
Phosphate; and for Processing: Potassium Hydroxide, Ammonium Hydroxide, 
Cyclohexlamine, Diethylaminoethanol, Morpholine, Octadecylamine.
    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, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2510-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, 
DC 20090-6456; by telephone at (202) 720-3252; or by accessing the NOP 
website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop on or after May 4, 2001.

Type of Meeting

    The meeting is open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for 
public input on Wednesday, June 6, 2001, from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., and 
on Thursday, June 7, 2001, from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Best 
Western Midway Hotel 1835 Rose Street, La Crosse, WI 54603. Telephone: 
(608) 781-7000. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the meeting should forward their request to Mrs. Toni 
Strother at USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2510-So., Ag Stop 
0268, Washington, DC 20090-6456, or by FAX to (202) 205-7808, or by e-
mail to [email protected], by close of business May 31, 2001. 
While persons wishing to make a presentation may sign up at the door, 
advance registration will ensure that a person has the opportunity to 
speak during the allotted time period and will help the NOSB to better 
manage the meeting and

[[Page 27626]]

to 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. 
Written submissions may contain information other than that 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: May 16, 2001.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12685 Filed 5-16-01; 11:35 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P