[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62434-62435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27606]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 031003246-3246-01]


National Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation 
(NVCASE) Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
announces the establishment of a sub-program under the National 
Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation (NVCASE) program to 
recognize accreditors of certification bodies involved in organic 
production and processing. The sub-program is being established 
pursuant to NVCASE procedures in response to a request from the 
International Organic Accreditation Service. Accreditation bodies 
recognized by NIST may then accredit certification bodies that are 
involved in organic production and processing.
    The action being taken under this notice addresses both general and 
specific NVCASE requirements relating to organic production and 
processing. Sub-program requirements have been developed in accordance 
with NVCASE procedures and with public consultation. Public input was 
obtained at an open meeting on May 9, 2003.

DATES: Applications will be accepted beginning December 4, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Applications for recognition may be obtained from, and 
returned to, NVCASE Program Manager, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Mailstop 
2150, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2150, (Attention: Jogindar S. Dhillon), or 
by fax (301) 975-5414, or e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jogindar S. Dhillon, NIST, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Mailstop 2150, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2150, fax: (301) 975-5414, 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NVCASE sub-program to recognize 
accreditation bodies that accredit certification bodies for organic 
production and processing is being established in accordance with 
NVCASE program procedures, 15 CFR 286.2(b)(3)(iii). The general and 
specific requirements were established pursuant to NVCASE procedures as 
cited in 15 CFR 286.5. Public consultation on these requirements was 
conducted at a workshop held on May 9, 2003. This workshop was 
announced in the Federal Register Vol. 68, No. 63/Wednesday, April 2, 
2003.
    NIST will apply the general requirements contained in the 
International Organization for Standardization/International 
Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Guide 61--``General Requirements 
for Assessment and Accreditation of Certification/Registration Bodies'' 
or its latest revision to all applicant accreditation bodies. These 
general requirements will be supplemented by specific technical 
requirements outlined below and contained in the NVCASE handbook, 
available upon request from NIST.
    Under this sub-program, NIST-recognized accreditors will accredit 
certification bodies for conformance to:
    (i) The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements' 
(IFOAM) Accreditation Criteria and IFOAM Basic Standards for organic 
production and processing; and/or
    (ii) ISO/IEC Guide 65--``General Requirements for bodies operating 
product certification systems''--and international standards, as 
requested by the applicant certification bodies, in the field of 
organic production and processing.
    NVCASE recognition of an accreditor of ``Organic Production and 
Processing'' certification bodies does not convey recognition by any 
other organization.
    NIST will accept applications from interested accreditation bodies 
for recognition to accredit certification bodies involved in organic 
production and processing until December 4, 2003. All accreditation 
bodies that have submitted a complete application and required fees to 
NIST within 30 days after the beginning of the acceptance of 
applications will be included in an initial group for evaluation. 
Applications received subsequently will be considered on an as-received 
basis for evaluation after the initial group of applicants has been 
considered. You may request a copy of the application

[[Page 62435]]

from the NVCASE Program Manager at the contact information noted above. 
Further information for the evaluation process can be obtained from the 
NVCASE Program Handbook, NISTIR 6440; 2002 ED, available at http://ts.nist.gov/nvcase. The fees are estimated upon submission of the 
application on an individual basis. NIST will announce the recognition 
of qualified accreditation bodies on the NVCASE web site at http://ts.nist.gov/nvcase.
    This notice contains a collection of information requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection of information 
has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the following control Number: 0693-0019. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no person is required to respond nor shall a person 
be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
Control Number.

    Dated: October 28, 2003.
Arden L. Bement, Jr.,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-27606 Filed 11-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-U