[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3546-3547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1005]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced 
Labor in Imported Agricultural Products

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for Applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) requests nominations of individuals to serve as a non-government 
member of the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor 
and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products (Consultative 
Group). On June 18, 2008, the President signed into law the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Act), also known as the 2008 
Farm Bill. The Act provides for the creation of the Consultative Group.

DATES: Applications must be received prior to 5 p.m. on March 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit applications by any of the following methods:

--USDA: Applications should be sent by mail to the Office of 
Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Stop 1040, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250; by hand (including DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) to the 
Office of Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign Agricultural Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4133-S, 1400 Independence Ave., 
SW., Washington, DC 20250; by e-mail to: [email protected]; or 
by fax to (202) 720-0340.
--U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): Applications should be sent by mail 
or by hand (including DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) to the Bureau of 
International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Room S-5317, Washington, DC 20210; by e-mail to: 
[email protected] or [email protected]; or by fax to (202) 693-
4830.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Negotiations and 
Agreements by fax on (202) 720-0340; by email addressed to 
[email protected]; or by mail addressed to the Office of 
Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Stop 1040, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use 
of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products was 
established by section 3205 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). Interested parties are invited to submit 
applications for membership in the Consultative Group to the USDA or 
DOL as specified in the Submission of Applications paragraph below.

Duties

    The Consultative Group will develop recommendations relating to a 
standard set of practices for independent, third-party monitoring and 
verification for the production, processing, and distribution of 
agricultural products or commodities to reduce the likelihood that 
agricultural products or commodities imported into the United States 
are produced with the use of forced labor or child labor. 
Recommendations developed by the Consultative Group will be submitted 
to the Secretary of Agriculture by June 18, 2010. Thereafter, the 
Consultative Group will continue to advise the Secretary as necessary.

Membership

    The Consultative Group will be composed of a total of 13 members, 
including two officials from USDA, one of whom will serve as the 
chairperson; the Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs, DOL; 
and one representative from the Department of State. As required under 
section 3205(d) of the Act, the Consultative Group will also include:
     Three members to represent private agriculture-related 
enterprises, which may include retailers, food processors, importers, 
and producers, of whom at least one member shall be an importer, food 
processor, or retailer who utilizes independent, third-party supply 
chain monitoring for forced labor or child labor;
     Two members to represent institutions of higher education 
and research institutions, as determined appropriate by the Bureau of 
International Labor Affairs, DOL;
     One member to represent an organization that provides 
independent, third-party certification services for labor standards for 
producers or importers of agricultural commodities or products; and
     Three members to represent organizations described in 
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that have 
expertise on the issues of international child labor and do not possess 
a conflict of interest associated with establishment of the guidelines 
issued under section 3205(c)(2) of the Act, as determined by the Bureau 
of

[[Page 3547]]

International Labor Affairs, DOL, including representatives from 
consumer organizations and trade unions, if appropriate.

Terms of Service

     Members shall serve through December 31, 2012;
     The Consultative Group shall meet no fewer than four times 
per year in person in Washington, DC or through alternative media;
     The Consultative Group shall make its recommendations to 
the Secretary of Agriculture no later than June 18, 2010. Thereafter, 
the Consultative Group will continue to advise the Secretary as 
necessary;
     Members of the Consultative Group shall serve without 
compensation;
     Travel and lodging expenses will be borne by each member; 
and
     Meetings of the Consultative Group will be closed to the 
public.

Submission of Applications

     Membership in the Consultative Group is open to all 
individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national 
origin, age, mental or physical handicap, marital status, or sexual 
orientation.
     All applications must include the following information:
    (1) Brief summary explaining the candidate's qualifications to 
serve as a member of the Consultative Group;
    (2) Statement specifying the non-government membership category for 
which the candidate is best qualified (private agriculture-related 
enterprises, higher education and research institutions, etc.);
    (3) Resume;
    (4) Contact information of candidate; and
    (5) Completed copy of form AD-755, ``Advisory Committee Membership 
Background Information.''
    Applications from candidates of private agriculture-related 
enterprises and independent, third-party certification services must be 
sent to the USDA contact listed above. Applications from candidates of 
higher education, research institutions, and 501(c)(3) organizations 
must be sent to the DOL contact listed above.

Member Selection

    The requested applications will assist U.S. Government agencies in 
making appointments to the Consultative Group. Other qualified 
individuals may be considered in addition to those who submit 
applications in response to this notice.

    Signed at Washington, DC on January 12, 2009.
Constance Jackson,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1005 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
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