[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57863-57864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25311]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc.  TM-03-09]


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

DATES: The meeting dates are: Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 1 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m., Thursday, October 23, 2003, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 
October 24, 2003, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Requests from individuals and 
organizations wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting are 
due by the close of business on October 7, 2003. A closed session will 
be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at which 
administrative matters will be handled.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Radisson Barcel[oacute] 
Hotel Washington, The Phillips Ballroom, 2121 P Street, NW., 
Washington, DC. Requests for copies of the NOSB meeting agenda, 
requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting, or written 
comments may be sent to Ms. Katherine Benham at USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0200. Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may 
also be sent electronically to Ms. Katherine Benham at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mathews, Program Manager, 
National Organic Program, (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 handling, to assist in 
the development of standards for substances to be used in

[[Page 57864]]

organic production and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in 
Washington, DC, in March 1992, and currently has six committees working 
on various aspects of the organic program. The committees are: 
Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Livestock; 
Materials; Handling; and Policy Development.
    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 50 addenda to its 
recommendations and reviewed more than 256 substances for inclusion on 
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The last 
meeting of the NOSB was held on May 13-14, 2003, in Austin, Texas.
    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.
    The principal purposes of the meeting are to provide an opportunity 
for the NOSB to hear a presentation from FDA on their substance 
approval process for livestock; to hear recommendations from 
contractors, past and present, for enhancing petitions for the addition 
or removal of substances from the National List and for enhancing the 
statement of work between contractors and USDA; receive public comment 
regarding what constitutes compatibility/consistency with a system of 
sustainable agriculture/organic production and handling relative to 
substance review and evaluations; to develop a statement for public 
distribution on what constitutes compatibility/consistency with a 
system of sustainable agriculture/organic production and handling 
relative to substance review and evaluations; and finally to document 
and clarify, for the NOP, substance recommendations from the May 2003 
NOSB meeting in Austin, Texas.
    For further information, see http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Copies of 
the NOSB meeting agenda can be requested from Ms. Katherine Benham by 
telephone at (202) 205-7806; or by accessing the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
    The meeting is open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for 
public input on Thursday, October 23, 2003, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., for 
individuals to speak on the issue of what constitutes compatibility/
consistency with a system of sustainable agriculture/organic production 
and handling. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the meeting may forward their request by facsimile to 
Ms. Katherine Benham at (202) 205-7808. 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 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 also be submitted at the meeting. Persons 
submitting written comments at the meeting are asked to provide 30 
copies.
    Interested persons may visit the NOSB portion of the NOP Web site 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop to view available documents prior to the 
meeting. Approximately 6 weeks following the meeting interested persons 
will be able to visit the NOSB portion of the NOP Web site to view 
documents from the meeting.

    Dated: October 1, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-25311 Filed 10-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P