[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 98 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29123-29124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11511]


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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, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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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: June 3-4, 2004, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day and 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. on the second day. Written requests 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: Vista C Room at the Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M

[[Page 29124]]

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, 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 fifth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for June 3-4, 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 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 two draft introductory chapters prepared by 
USDA staff with input from specific AC21 members; to review the 
progress of two work groups on developing report chapters on potential 
issues and concerns and on possible future scenarios and to provide 
guidance to them in their work; and to consider presentations on 
research related to trends in consumer acceptance of agricultural 
biotechnology products. 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 June 3, 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, and 
telephone and fax numbers 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.

    Dated: May 17, 2004.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 04-11511 Filed 5-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P