[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 32725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13761]


 ========================================================================
 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. 68, No. 105 / Monday, June 2, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 32725]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics


Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st 
Century Agriculture Meeting

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: August 16 and 17, 2003, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

ADDRESSES: Vista C Room at the Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal 
Officer, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten 
Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone (202) 720-3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The first meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for August 16-17, 2003. The AC21 consists of 18 members 
representing the biotechnology industry, the seed industry, 
international plant genetics researchers, farmers, food manufacturers, 
commodity processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups, 
along with academic researchers including a bioethicist. In addition, 
representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human 
Services, and State, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative have been invited to serve as ``ex officio'' 
members. The Committee meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 
each day. The topics to be discussed will include: (1) Rules of 
procedure for the AC21; (2) assessment of informational needs of AC21 
members; (3) organization of the AC21's work in examining the impacts 
of agricultural biotechnology on American agriculture and USDA over the 
next 5 to 10 years and expected outputs from the committee; and (4) 
preliminary presentations and introductory discussions on two sub-areas 
of that work, namely new biotechnology-derived non-food uses of row 
crops and impacts of biotechnology along the overall food production 
and distribution system.
    Background information regarding the work of the AC21 will be 
available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/agencies/biotech/ac21.html. Members of the public who wish to make oral statements 
should also inform Dr. Schechtman in writing or via E-mail at the 
indicated addresses at least three business days before the meeting. On 
August 16, 2003, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for 
oral presentations of no more than five minutes each in duration.
    The meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. If 
you would like to attend the meetings, you must register by contacting 
Ms. Dianne Harmon at (202) 720-4074, by fax at (202) 720-3191 or by E-
mail at [email protected] at least 5 days prior to the meeting. 
Please provide your name, title, business affiliation, address, 
telephone, and fax number when you register. If you require a sign 
language interpreter or other special accommodation due to disability, 
please indicate those needs at the time of registration.

Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics.
[FR Doc. 03-13761 Filed 5-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P