[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3357-3358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1233]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


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, USDA.

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: February 7-8, 2005, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. 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: Williamsburg Room (Room 104A), Jamie L. Whitten Federal 
Building, 12th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250. Requests to make oral presentations at the meeting may be sent 
to the contact

[[Page 3358]]

person at USDA, Office of the Deputy Secretary, 202 B Jamie L. Whitten 
Federal Building, 12th Street and Independence Avenue, 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 eighth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for February 7-8, 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 will discuss, with the intent of finalizing, a draft 
report 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. The AC21 will further discuss how best to present this 
report to the Secretary of Agriculture. The AC21 at this meeting will 
also consider its other wide-ranging 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 portions of the 
report, in various stages of development, drafted by various work 
groups, specifically the two introductory report chapters; key 
definitions; potential issues to consider; and preparing for the 
future. In this review, the AC21 will provide comments and suggestions 
for how the Committee and work groups can develop the report and move 
it toward completion. The AC21 will seek to achieve consensus on the 
contents of the report.
    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 February 7, 2005, 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: January 11, 2005.
Rodney J. Brown,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 05-1233 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P