[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11512-11513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5227]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) will be holding a public meeting of the Consultative Group to 
Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported 
Agricultural Products (Consultative Group) on March 29, 2010. The sole 
purpose of the meeting is to solicit input from the public regarding 
the Consultative Group's statutory mandate to 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. 
The notice sets forth the process for requesting to appear at the 
meeting, and for submitting written statements. 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: March 18, 2010--Due date for submission of requests to make an 
oral statement at the public meeting. (See Requirement for Submissions 
and Meeting Procedures below.)
    March 22, 2010--Due date to notify intention to attend the public 
meeting without making a statement or to request special 
accommodations.
    March 29, 2010--Public meeting for the Consultative Group to 
Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported 
Agricultural Products, Room 104-A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 12th and 
Jefferson Drive, SW., Washington, DC 20250, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
    April 30, 2010--Final date for submission of written statements.

ADDRESSES: You may make written submissions by any of the following 
methods: 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; or 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; or by e-mail 
to: [email protected]; or by fax to (202) 720-0340.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Negotiations and 
Agreements by phone on (202) 720-6219; by e-mail 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: In written submissions and statements to the 
Consultative Group as part of this public meeting, parties are asked to 
provide information or comment on the following issues:
    (a) Examples of identification, monitoring, verification, and/or 
certification systems, or other models, that have been successful in 
reducing child labor and/or forced labor in the global supply chains 
within the agricultural sector or other industries;
    (b) The roles and responsibilities that may be appropriate for the 
business sector and other stakeholders (governments, unions, non-
governmental organizations, and others) in establishing independent, 
third-party monitoring and verification systems for the production, 
processing, and distribution of agricultural products or commodities;
    (c) Other information that would be useful to the Consultative 
Group in meeting its mandate to 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.
    Section 3205 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(Farm Bill, Pub. L. 110-246) created the Consultative Group to 
Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported 
Agricultural Products to 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 are to be submitted 
to the Secretary of Agriculture by June 18, 2010. By June 18, 2011, the 
Secretary is required to release guidelines for a voluntary initiative 
to enable entities to address issues raised by the Trafficking Victims 
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.). The guidelines must be 
published in the Federal Register and made available for public comment 
for a period of 90 days. The Consultative Group will terminate on 
December 31, 2012.
    On September 23, 2009, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack 
appointed 13 members to the Consultative Group. The group consists of 
both government and non-government members, including

[[Page 11513]]

members from USDA; the U.S. Department of Labor; and the U.S. 
Department of State. Non-government members include three members from 
the agriculture-related private sector; two members from institutions 
of higher education and research; one member from an organization 
providing independent, third-party certification services for labor 
standards; and three members from non-profit organizations with 
expertise on international child labor and forced labor issues.

Requirements for Submissions and Meeting Procedures

    Submissions in response to this notice must be made in English with 
any written submission not to exceed 30 single-spaced standard letter-
size pages in 12-point type, including attachments. By March 18, 2010, 
all interested parties wishing to make an oral statement at the meeting 
must submit the name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, and 
e-mail address of the attendee(s) representing their organization by e-
mail to [email protected]. Requests to present oral statements 
must be accompanied by a written statement which, at a minimum, 
identifies key issues to be addressed in the oral statement. Depending 
on the number of identified participants, oral statements before the 
Consultative Group may be subject to time limits in order to 
accommodate all participants. The meeting will be open to the public, 
and a transcript will be made available for public inspection or can be 
purchased from the reporting company. USDA is a controlled access 
facility. Therefore, individuals who wish to attend the meeting without 
making a statement must also register with the Consultative Group so 
that arrangements can be made for them to be allowed to enter the 
facility. Persons who wish to register or to request special 
accommodations for a disability or other reasons must submit a 
notification by e-mail to [email protected]. by March 22, 
2010. No electronic media coverage will be allowed. Press inquiries 
should be directed to the USDA, Office of Communications at (202) 720-
4623.

    Signed at Washington, DC on March 4, 2010.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5227 Filed 3-8-10; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P