[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 186 (Monday, September 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57669-57670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21552]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[No.: TM-04-11]


Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: Tuesday, October 12, 2004, 8 a.m. to 5 
p.m., Wednesday, October 13, 2004, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday, 
October 14, 2004, 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Requests from individuals and 
organizations wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting are 
due by the close of business on September 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Washington Marriott, 
Salon E, 1221 22nd 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, 
Advisory Board Specialist 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 
via facsimile to Ms. Katherine Benham at (202) 205-7808 or 
electronically to Ms. Katherine Benham at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mathews, Associate Deputy 
Administrator, 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. 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 organic 
production and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of the OFPA.

[[Page 57670]]

    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 53 addenda to its 
recommendations and reviewed more than 264 substances for inclusion on 
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The last 
meeting of the NOSB was held on April 28-30, 2004, in Chicago, 
Illinois.
    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 hear discussions 
between NOP and NOSB regarding the status of previous NOSB materials 
recommendations; NOSB recommendations concerning compatibility, 
commercial availability, and minor non-compliances; a NOP/NOSB 
framework for collaboration; an action plan for a NOSB Executive 
Director; and the process for reviewing materials. The NOSB will 
receive an update on the statement of work for TAP contractors, discuss 
issues concerning a letter of understanding with the Organic Materials 
Review Institute, and participate in working sessions that consider 
committee drafts designed to provide feedback to the NOP on directives 
regarding inerts, fishmeal as a feed supplement, antibiotics, and NOP 
scope. The Board will receive public input on materials issues, 
standards for pet food and aquatic animals, and hear a presentation on 
integrated organic program research grants from the USDA Cooperative 
State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES).
    The Materials Committee will present, for NOSB consideration, an 
action plan to establish standard operating procedures for facilitating 
the sunset review of materials and discuss issues involving OFPA 
provisions for materials and interpretations of those provisions and 
the National List. The Materials Committee will also discuss revising 
the Federal Register notice for petitioning substances and consider 
issues in refining the process for materials review. The Handling 
Committee will provide an update on materials approved as food contact 
substances and present, for NOSB consideration, action plans to address 
issues concerning organic yeast and pet food standards. The Livestock 
Committee will present, for discussion, the formation of a task force 
on wild caught and aquaculture standards. The Policy Development 
Committee will present a draft committee recommendation for scheduling 
NOSB meetings and provide an update on board policy manual revisions. 
Finally, the Crops Committee will discuss issues concerning the use of 
extraction methods, including the use of potassium carbonate and 
hydrolyzed extracts, and submit, for consideration, its recommendation 
on the Compost Tea Task Force report.
    Materials to be reviewed at the meeting by the NOSB are as follows: 
for Crop Production: Soy Protein Isolate.
    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 Tuesday, October 12, 2004, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and 
Thursday, October 14, 2004, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Individuals and 
organizations wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting may 
forward their request by mail, facsimile, or e-mail to Ms. Katherine 
Benham at addresses listed in ADDRESSES above. 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: September 20, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-21552 Filed 9-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P