[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 190 (Monday, October 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57918-57919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8419]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. TM-06-11]


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

[[Page 57919]]

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 17, 2006, 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m.; Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 8 a.m. to 5 pm; and Thursday, 
October 19, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Requests from individuals and 
organizations wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting or to 
submit written comments to be posted on the website prior to the NOSB 
meeting, are due by the close of business on October 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at The Radisson Hotel--Reagan 
National Airport, 2020 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. 
Requests for copies of the NOSB meeting agenda, to make an oral 
presentation at the meeting, or to submit written comments may be sent 
to Ms. Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, 
DC 20250-0268. These requests or comments may also be sent via 
facsimile to Ms. Valerie Frances at (202) 205-7808 or by electronic 
mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Frances, ExecutiveDirector, 
NOSB, 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. 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 101 addenda to its 
recommendations and reviewed more than 269 substances for inclusion on 
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The last 
meeting of the NOSB was held on April 19-20, 2006, in State College, 
PA.
    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 provide an opportunity 
for the NOSB to receive an update from the USDA/NOP and hear progress 
reports from NOSB committees regarding work plan items and proposed 
action items.
    The Policy Development Committee will present recommendations 
regarding revisions to the NOSB Policy and Procedures Manual and 
discuss the development of a guide for new NOSB members. The Policy 
Development and Crops Committees will provide an update and will 
discuss issues regarding the development of a recommendation on 
temporary variances allowed for certified organic research facilities 
for products not to be marketed as organic.
    The Crops Committee will present recommendations regarding guidance 
for the use of compost tea, vermiculture and dehydrated manure, and on 
petitioned materials: lime mud, sodium lauryl sulfate, sulfuric acid 
(to stabilize dehydrated manures), and calcium chloride. The Crops 
Committee will discuss issues related to public comments received 
concerning commercial availability requirements for the use of 
certified organic seed on certified organic farms. In addition, the 
Committee will provide an update to their work on developing guidance 
for the certification of hydroponic crops.
    The Materials and Handling Committees will present a joint 
recommendation on determining when a product is agricultural versus 
nonagricultural. These same committees will also discuss their work to 
clarify the definitions of materials on the National List.
    The Handling Committee will present a recommendation that will 
specify criteria necessary to facilitate determinations related to the 
commercial availability of organic agricultural ingredients. The 
Committee will also present, in closure of its review of the first 
sunset of substances under the requirements of the OFPA, a 
recommendation to remove colors from the National List and a 
recommendation to affirm their removal of bleached lecithin from the 
National List. The Committee will receive the report of the Pet Food 
Task Force regarding their efforts to draft standards for organic pet 
food. In addition, the Committee will discuss the status of materials 
petitioned for use in handling .
    The Livestock Committee will invite public input on issues 
regarding the development of organic aquaculture (finfish) standards.
    The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee (CACC) 
will present recommendations to address questions and answers regarding 
the labeling of certified organic products of retailers and private 
labelers. The CACC will present recommendations that address the 
standardization of information required on organic certificates, the 
addition of an expiration date, and procedures for managing expiration 
dates on certificates. Finally, the CACC will discuss future Peer 
Review Procedures.
    Copies of the NOSB meeting agenda and additional information can be 
requested from Ms. Valerie Frances by telephone at (202) 720-3252; 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 for Tuesday, October 17, 2006, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, October 18, 2006, from 1:45 p.m. 
to 5 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 Valerie Frances at addresses listed in 
ADDRESSES above. 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 25, 2006.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8419 Filed 9-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P