[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 7413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3299]


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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 17, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 7413]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

DATES: March 8-9, 2004, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Written request 
to make oral presentations at the meeting must be received by the 
contact person identified herein at least three business days before 
the meeting.

ADDRESSES: Oasis Room at the Sphinx Club, 1315 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20005. Requests to make oral presentations at the 
meeting may be sent to the contact person at USDA, Office of the Deputy 
Secretary, 202 B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and 
Independence Avenues, SW., Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, Telephone (202) 720-
3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fourth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for March 8-9, 2004. The AC21 consists of 18 members 
representing the biotechnology industry, the seed industry, 
international plant genetics research, farmers, food manufacturers, 
commodity processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups, 
and academic researchers. 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 serve as ``ex 
officio'' members. The Committee meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 
5 p.m. on each day. The AC21 at this meeting will continue its work to 
develop a report examining the impacts of agricultural biotechnology on 
American agriculture and USDA over the next 5 to 10 years, 
specifically: to review a draft report introduction prepared by USDA 
staff; to review the progress of two work groups, one on potential 
issues, concerns, and benefits, and one on scenario-setting; to provide 
guidance to work groups in adapting the information they have developed 
into chapters of the committee report; and to consider preliminary 
presentations and introductory discussions related to trends in public 
versus private biotechnology research and implications for public 
research. The AC21 will also discuss the progress of a work group 
drafting a separate report for the committee's consideration on the 
issue of the proliferation of traceability and mandatory labeling 
regimes for biotechnology-derived products in other countries, the 
implications of those regimes, and what industry is doing to attempt to 
address those requirements for products shipped to those countries.
    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. On March 8, 2004, 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.

Edward B. Knipling,
Acting Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 04-3299 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P