[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 51443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19030]


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 Notices
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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 160 / Thursday, August 19, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51443]]



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. II, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: September 13-14, 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: Monticello Ballroom at the Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M 
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 sixth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for September 13-14, 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 to consider and on preparing for the future and to provide 
guidance to them in their work. 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 September 13, 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: August 10, 2004.
Rodney J. Brown,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 04-19030 Filed 8-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P