[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68124-68125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25982]


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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.

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: December 9-10, 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: Waugh Auditorium, USDA Economic Research Service, Third 
Floor, South Tower, 1800 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20036. 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

[[Page 68125]]

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 seventh meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for December 9-10, 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. In 
particular, the AC21 will review the progress of four work groups 
developing portions of the report, specifically: A work group 
developing the two introductory report chapters; a work group on key 
definitions; a work group on potential issues to consider; and a work 
group on preparing for the future. In this review, the AC21 will 
provide comments and suggestions for how the Committee can develop the 
reports and move them toward completion. The AC21 will seek to achieve 
consensus on the contents of the report. The AC21 will also discuss, 
with a view to finalizing, a second draft report developed by another 
work group 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 December 9, 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: November 16, 2004.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 04-25982 Filed 11-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P