[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48334-48335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20539]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 156 / Wednesday, August 13, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 48334]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number TM-03-06]


National Organic Program; Nominations for Peer Review Panel 
Technical Expert

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Organic Foods Production Act (Act) of 1990, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 6516) permits the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National 
Organic Program (NOP) to establish a peer review panel to evaluate the 
NOP's accreditation program. This notice calls for nominations for a 
technical expert to serve on the peer review panel.

DATES: Written nominations, with resumes, must be postmarked on or 
before September 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Katherine E. Benham, 
Agricultural Marketing Information Assistant, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0268, and to Mr. Reinaldo B. Figueiredo, Program Director, 
Conformity Assessment, American National Standards Institute, 1819 L 
Street NW., 6th Floor, Washington DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Jones, Director, Program 
Development, National Organic Program, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone: (202) 
720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act permits the Administrator of the 
Agricultural Marketing Service to establish a peer review panel. Under 
the Act's implementing regulations (7 CFR 205.509) the peer review 
panel is to be composed of not less than 3 members who shall evaluate 
the National Organic Program's adherence to the accreditation 
procedures in subpart F of the regulations and International 
Organization for Standards/International Electro-technical Commission 
(ISO/IEC) Guide 61, General requirements for assessment and 
accreditation of certification/registration bodies, and the National 
Organic Program's accreditation decisions. This analysis is to be 
accomplished through the review of accreditation procedures, document 
review and site evaluation reports, and accreditation decision 
documents or documentation. The peer review panel is required to report 
its findings, in writing, to the NOP Program Manager.
    The NOP has selected the American National Standards Institute 
(ANSI) to perform an assessment using the accreditation procedures at 7 
CFR 205.500-205.510 and ISO/IEC Guide 61. In addition to the 
regulations and guidelines, ANSI's assessment method will utilize ISO 
19011, Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management system 
audit and the International Accreditation Federation (IAF) policies and 
procedures for a multilateral recognition arrangement on the level of 
accreditation bodies and on the level of regional groups (Issue 3--
Version 4).
    The ANSI was selected by the NOP to perform this peer review 
assessment because of its world-wide credibility, knowledgeable and 
professional staff and performance of accreditation activities similar 
in size and scope to those undertaken by the NOP. ANSI has accredited 
36 product certification programs for a variety of scopes and 2 
personnel certification bodies in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, 
ANSI is the sole U.S. representative and dues-paying member of the 
International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and, via the U.S. 
National Committee (USNC), the International Electro-technical 
Commission (IEC). Further, ANSI is a member of the International 
Accreditation Forum (IAF), and the sole U.S. accreditation body for 
product and personnel certifiers in this international forum. Finally, 
at the regional level, ANSI is a member of Inter-American Accreditation 
Cooperation (IAAC) and also Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC). 
The ANSI Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) National Accreditation 
Program (NAP) is the U.S. signatory to the IAF Multilateral Recognition 
Arrangement for Quality and Environment Management Systems.

Assessment Team and Time Requirements

    The assessment team will consist of three individuals; (1) an ANSI 
provided lead assessor trained in ISO/IEC Guide 61, (2) an ANSI 
provided assessor trained in ISO/IEC Guide 61, and (3) a NOP technical 
expert.
    The timetable for the assessment is expected to require 4 days for 
preparation for the assessment, 6 days for assessment at USDA's 
Washington headquarters, 3 days for witness assessments at offices of 
USDA accredited certification bodies and 3 days for completion of the 
post-evaluation report. Completion of this report will be the 
responsibility of the lead assessor. The assessment process is expected 
to begin 60 days after the publication of this notice.

Minimum Skills and Experience Requirements

    Candidates for the technical expert position must have demonstrable 
experience in working in team environments, possess excellent verbal 
and written communication skills (including use of electronic document 
formats), and demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and meet 
strict deadlines. Candidates must have demonstrable knowledge of 
organic production and handling methods and certification procedures. 
Preferred experience includes demonstrable knowledge of the NOP 
regulations (7 CFR 205 et seq.), ISO/IEC Guide 61 and ISO/IEC Guide 65. 
An understanding of how the ISO/IEC documents apply to public 
institutions is also preferred.
    Candidates should submit their qualifications in a resume or 
curriculum vita format along with two examples of technical writing. In 
addition to this information, candidates should submit, if applicable, 
a ``declaration of interests'' list. This list should state all direct 
commercial, financial, consulting, family, or personal relationships 
that currently exist or have existed during the past 12 months. The 
technical expert will be required to recuse him/herself from the review 
of files of organizations with whom he/she have

[[Page 48335]]

had direct interests in the preceding 12 months.

Compensation/Professional Conduct

    The NOP technical expert will be a sub-contractor to ANSI. 
Therefore, compensation for the technical expert including hourly rates 
and travel and per diem reimbursement will be determined by direct 
negotiations between ANSI and the NOP technical expert. In addition to 
the requirement of recusing him/herself from the assessment process as 
discussed above, the technical expert will be required to abide by all 
ANSI requirements concerning professional conduct.

    Dated: August 7, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-20539 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P