[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3356-3357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1180]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc.  TM-04-13]


National Organic Program (NOP); Nominations for Task Force 
Members

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) at its October 12-
14, 2004, meeting recommended the formation of two ad hoc task force 
groups to develop draft organic standards. One task force will develop 
proposed production, handling, and labeling standards for food and 
animal feed products derived from aquatic animals. The second task 
force will develop proposed organic labeling standards for pet food. 
This notice calls for nominations for members to these two task force 
groups.

DATES: Written nominations, with resumes, must be post-marked on or 
before February 23, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Katherine E. Benham, 
Advisory Board Specialist, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Jones, Director, Program 
Development, National Organic Program, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone: (202) 
720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Why Are These Task Force Groups Being Formed?

    Two areas of agricultural products left unregulated by the current 
NOP regulations are: (1) production, handling, and labeling standards 
for food and animal feed products derived from aquatic animals and (2) 
labeling standards for pet food.
    The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), includes ``fish used for food'' within the 
definition of livestock. This language provides the authority for the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish national standards 
for the production, handling and labeling of these products when they 
are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic. The USDA interprets 
the OFPA language to include both finfish and shellfish.
    During April-May 2000, the NOP conducted public meetings in Mobile, 
Alabama; Anchorage, Alaska; and Providence, Rhode Island. These 
meetings were designed to solicit public input regarding the potential 
of certifying as organic aquatic animals harvested from aquaculture and 
wild or open-sea production. Twenty-nine individuals presented 
testimony during the three public meetings, including representatives 
from commercial wild harvest and aquaculture producers, organic 
certification organizations, State regulatory programs, and consumer 
and environmental interest groups. In addition, the NOP solicited 
public comment on this issue in a March 22, 2000, Federal Register 
notice (65 FR 15579). The USDA received a total of 44 public comments 
on the questions raised in this notice.
    An analysis of the comments at the time showed little consensus on 
organic certification of products derived from aquatic animals. 
Commenters both favored and opposed developing production and handling 
standards for aquatic animals. In order to more fully examine the 
issues raised by the commenters, the NOSB formed an aquatic animal task 
force at its June 6-7, 2000, meeting. In October 2001, this task force 
issued a general recommendation calling for the development of 
standards for the certification of aquaculture production and a 
prohibition on the development of standards for the certification of 
wild-harvested aquatic animals. The full task force report may be 
obtained at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/FinalRecommendations/Oct01/AquaticTaskForce.html., or by contacting the NOP at the address shown 
in this notice.
    However, since 2001, the interest in the certification of aquatic 
animals has grown significantly. Some USDA-accredited organic 
certification agents have developed private standards to address the 
market demand for these products. Further, a rider to the Supplemental 
Appropriations Bill, passed by Congress in April 2003, resolved any 
previous uncertainty about whether organic standards for wild-harvested 
aquatic animals could be developed under the authority of the OFPA (7 
U.S.C. 6506 (c)). This new section reads:

    ``(c) WILD SEAFOOD
    (1) IN GENERAL--Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 
2107(a)(1)(A) requiring products to be produced only on certified 
organic farms, the Secretary shall allow, through regulations 
promulgated after public notice and opportunity for public comment, 
wild seafood to be certified as organic.
    (2) CONSULTATION AND ACCOMODATION--In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall--
    (A) consult with--
    (i) the secretary of Commerce;
    (ii) the National Organic Standards Board established under 
section 2119;
    (iii) producers, processors, and sellers; and
    (iv) other interested members of the public; and
    (B) to the maximum extent practicable, accommodate the unique 
characteristics of the industries in the United States that harvest 
and process wild seafood.''


[[Page 3357]]


    We envision the formation of this aquatic animal task force as the 
first step in a deliberative process that may lead to the development 
of production, handling, and labeling standards for aquatic animals 
that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.
    The NOP final regulations (65 FR 80548, December 21, 2000), do not 
address the labeling of pet food. In the preamble to the NOP final 
regulations, we stated that ``We have not addressed the labeling of pet 
food within this final rule because of the extensive consultation that 
will be required between USDA, the NOSB, and the pet food industry 
before any standards on this category could be considered.'' Since the 
publication of the final regulation, the interest in the labeling of 
pet food as organic has grown significantly. Some USDA-accredited 
organic certification agents have developed private standards to 
address the market demand for these products. We envision the formation 
of this pet food task force as the first step in a deliberative process 
that may lead to the development of labeling standards for pet food 
that is to be sold, labeled or represented as organic.

What Are the Task Force Groups Objectives and Time Requirements?

    The general objective of these task force groups is to develop 
draft organic standards for: (1) The production, handling and labeling 
of food and animal feed products derived from aquatic animals and (2) 
the labeling of pet food as organic. Draft standards developed as a 
result of the task forces' work will be forwarded to the NOSB for 
review and consideration as recommendations to the Secretary.
    The task force on standards for aquatic animals will be divided 
into two working groups--one for animals that live and are harvested in 
the wild or open-sea and another for animals that live and are 
harvested under aquaculture. These working groups will develop 
recommendations for consideration by the full task force, which will in 
turn issue recommendations to the NOSB. The NOSB will review and 
consider the material developed by the task force and make 
recommendations to the Secretary. The aquatic animal task force will be 
chaired by the chairperson of the NOSB Livestock Committee. Each 
working group will be limited to 12 individuals. To the extent 
permitted by the pool of nominees, the task force members may include 
wild or open-sea fishermen, aquaculture producers, handlers and 
processors of aquatic animals, experts in aquatic animal health and 
nutrition, marine conservationists, consumer representatives, 
academics, and accredited organic certification agents.
    The task force on standards for the labeling of pet food will focus 
on the development of standards for product labeling categories and 
ingredients to be used in pet food that is to be sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic. In addition to developing recommendations on 
labeling categories and ingredients, the task force will prepare a list 
of substances used in the manufacture of pet food. The pet food task 
force will be chaired by the chairperson of the NOSB Handling 
Committee. The NOSB will review and consider the material developed by 
the task force and make recommendations to the Secretary. The task 
force will be limited to 12 individuals. To the extent permitted by the 
pool of nominees, the task force members may include representatives of 
makers of dry, canned, and semi-moist pet foods and treats, experts in 
animal health and nutrition, veterinarians, ingredient suppliers, feed 
control officials, academics, and accredited organic certification 
agents.
    We anticipate that members of the two task force groups will be 
named 60 days after publication of this notice. Each task force will be 
formally empanelled by the NOSB.
    Each task force will be expected to present its completed proposed 
standards at the October-November 2005, NOSB meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC.
    It is expected that the discussions between the respective task 
force members will be handled through electronic mail and conference 
calls. No face-to-face meetings are anticipated.

What Are the Minimum Skills and Experience Requirements To Be 
Considered for These Task Force Groups?

    Candidates for the aquatic animal task force should have 5 years of 
demonstrable work experience as a wild or open-sea fisherman, an 
aquaculture producer, a handler or processor of aquatic animals, an 
aquatic animal health and nutrition specialist, a marine 
conservationist, a consumer representative, an academic, or an 
accredited organic certification agent. Candidates for the pet food 
task force should have 5 years of demonstrable work experience as a 
handler, processor or formulator of dry, canned, and semi-moist pet 
foods and treats, an animal health or nutrition specialist, a 
veterinarian, an ingredient supplier, a feed control official, an 
academic, or an accredited organic certification agent.
    Candidates with demonstrable knowledge of organic production and 
handling methods and certification procedures are preferred. Successful 
candidates should be aware of the issues raised and considered by 
previous Boards and any subsequent recommendations. NOSB actions and 
recommendations on these and other issues may be found at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/index.htm.
    Candidates should submit their qualifications in a resume or 
curriculum vita format. In addition to this information, candidates 
should submit, if applicable, a ``declaration of interests'' list. This 
list should state all direct commercial, financial, consulting, family, 
or personal relationships that currently exist or have existed with 
business entities that may be regulated through any future rulemaking 
on these issues. The declaration of interests list should cover 
activities undertaken by the candidate during the past 12 months.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.

    Dated: January 13, 2005.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1180 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P