[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 24, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51919-51924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20977]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[Document Number AMS-NOP-10-0051; NOP-10-04IR]
RIN 0581-AD04


National Organic Program; Amendment to the National List of 
Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Livestock)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This interim rule amends the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
(USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National 
List) to incorporate a recommendation submitted to the Secretary of 
Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 
on April 29, 2010. Consistent with the recommendation from the NOSB, 
this interim rule revises the annotation of one substance on the 
National List, methionine, to extend its use in organic poultry 
production until October 1, 2012, at the following maximum levels of 
synthetic methionine per ton of feed: Laying chickens--4 pounds; 
broiler chickens--5 pounds; turkeys and all

[[Page 51920]]

other poultry--6 pounds. Comments are requested on this interim rule.
    On April 29, 2010, the NOSB also recommended to extend the 
allowance for synthetic methionine beyond October 1, 2012, to October 
1, 2015, and decrease the maximum level of synthetic methionine 
permitted per ton of feed ration to the following levels: 2 pounds for 
laying and broiler chickens, and 3 pounds for turkeys and all other 
poultry. The NOSB further recommended that consideration of synthetic 
methionine after its anticipated October 1, 2015 expiration should take 
place through the Board's sunset review process rather than through the 
petition process. The Secretary intends to incorporate the NOSB's 
recommended reductions in allowable levels in a subsequent rulemaking 
to address the allowance for synthetic methionine for the period 
between October 1, 2012, and October 15, 2015.

DATES: Effective Date: This interim rule becomes effective October 1, 
2010. All comments received by October 25, 2010 will be considered 
prior to the issuance of a final rule. The agency will publish the 
final rule no later than March 2011.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit written comments on this 
interim rule using the following addresses:
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Toni Strother, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, 
National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250.
    Written comments responding to this interim rule should be 
identified with the docket number AMS-NOP-10-0051; NOP-10-04. You 
should clearly state whether you support the amendment of the 
annotation for the continued allowance of synthetic methionine in 
poultry production until October 1, 2012, at the maximum levels per ton 
of synthetic methionine in the feed ration, with clearly indicated 
reason(s) for your position. You should also offer any recommended 
language changes that would be appropriate for your position. Please 
include relevant information and data to support your position (e.g., 
scientific, environmental, manufacturing, industry, impact information, 
etc.). Only relevant material supporting your position should be 
submitted.
    It is our intention to have all comments concerning this interim 
rule, including names and addresses when provided, whether submitted by 
mail or Internet, available for viewing on the Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov) Internet site. Comments submitted in response to 
this interim rule will also be available for viewing in person at USDA, 
AMS, National Organic Program, Room 2646-South Building, Stop 0268, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, from 9 a.m. to 12 
noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except official 
Federal holidays). Persons wanting to visit the USDA South Building to 
view comments received in response to this interim rule are requested 
to make an appointment in advance by calling (202) 720-3252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Bailey, Director, Standards 
Division, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268. 
Telephone: (202) 720-3252.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On December 21, 2000, the Secretary established within the NOP [7 
CFR part 205] the National List regulations Sec. Sec.  205.600 through 
205.607. The National List identifies synthetic substances that may be 
used in organic production and nonsynthetic (natural) substances that 
may not be used. The National List also identifies nonagricultural 
nonsynthetic, nonagricultural synthetic, and nonorganic agricultural 
substances that may be used in organic production and handling.
    The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 
U.S.C. 6501-6522), and NOP regulations Sec.  205.105 specifically 
prohibit the use of any synthetic substance for organic production and 
handling unless provided on the National List. Section 205.105 also 
requires that any nonorganic agricultural or nonsynthetic 
nonagricultural substance used in organic handling be on the National 
List. Under the OFPA, the NOSB reviews exemptions for allowed synthetic 
substances every 5 years. If the NOSB recommends renewal, then the 
Secretary has authority under the OFPA to renew such exemptions. If 
they are not reviewed by the NOSB and renewed by the Secretary within 5 
years of their inclusion on the National List, their authorized use 
expires.
    Under the authority of the OFPA, the National List can be amended 
by the Secretary based on proposed amendments developed by the NOSB. 
Since established, the National List has been amended twelve times: 
October 31, 2003 (68 FR 61987); November 3, 2003 (68 FR 62215); October 
21, 2005 (70 FR 61217); June 7, 2006 (71 FR 32803); September 11, 2006 
(71 FR 53299); June 27, 2007 (72 FR 35137); October 16, 2007 (72 FR 
58469); December 10, 2007 (72 FR 69569); December 12, 2007 (72 FR 
70479); September 18, 2008 (73 FR 54057); October 9, 2008 (73 FR 
59479); and July 6, 2010 (75 FR 38693). Additionally, a proposed 
amendment to the National List was published on June 3, 2009 (74 FR 
26591).

II. Overview of Amendment

    This interim rule amends the National List to reflect a 
recommendation adopted by the NOSB on April 29, 2010, and subsequently 
forwarded to the Secretary. The NOSB reviewed the use of synthetic 
methionine in organic poultry production using the evaluation criteria 
specified in OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6517-6518) and the Secretary has reviewed 
the NOSB's recommendation.
    The current listing of synthetic methionine will expire on October 
1, 2010. This rule is issued to ensure the continued use of synthetic 
methionine after this date and avoid any disruption to the organic 
poultry market. A final rule will be issued no later than March 2011. 
The record indicates that the provision of methionine, the use of which 
is currently allowed, remains an essential dietary component for 
poultry in organic production and issuance of this interim rule 
maintains its use.

Section 205.603 Synthetic Substances Allowed for Use in Organic 
Livestock Production

    This interim rule amends Sec.  205.603(d)(1) by changing ``October 
1, 2010'' to ``October 1, 2012'' and imposing maximum levels based on 
each ton of feed ration. Section 205.603(d)(1) now reads as follows:

    DL--Methionine, DL--Methionine hydroxyl analog, and DL--
Methionine hydroxyl analog calcium (CAS  59-51-8; 63-68-3; 
348-67-4)--for use only in organic poultry production until October 
1, 2012, at the following maximum levels of synthetic methionine per 
ton of feed: Laying chickens--4 pounds; broiler chickens--5 pounds; 
turkeys and all other poultry--6 pounds.

    Methionine was originally included on the National List on October 
31, 2003, with an early expiration date of October 21, 2005 (the normal 
allowance for a substance added to the National List is five years from 
the listing date). It is a colorless or white crystalline powder that 
is soluble in water. Methionine is classified as an essential amino 
acid because it cannot be biologically produced by poultry and is

[[Page 51921]]

necessary to maintain viability. Natural feed sources with high 
percentages of methionine include bloodmeal, fish meal, crab meal, corn 
gluten meal, and sunflower seed meal. It is regulated as an animal feed 
nutritional supplement by the Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR 
582.5475). Organic livestock producers had petitioned the substance as 
a part of the NOSB's initial review of synthetic amino acids. The 
petitioners asserted that methionine was a necessary dietary supplement 
for organic poultry and that there was an inadequate supply of 
allowable organic feeds containing sufficient concentrations of 
naturally occurring methionine. Petitioners suggested that synthetic 
methionine would be fed as a dietary supplement to organic poultry at 
levels ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 percent of the animal's total diet. The 
petitioners also asserted that a prohibition on the use of synthetic 
methionine would contribute to nutritional deficiencies in organic 
poultry thereby jeopardizing the animals' health. After reviewing a 
Technical Advisory Panel analysis of the evaluation criteria provided 
in the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6517-6518), the NOSB determined that the use of 
synthetic methionine was consistent with a system of organic 
production. On October 16, 2001, the NOSB recommended that the 
Secretary include methionine on the National List of Allowed Synthetics 
for use in organic poultry production with an early expiration date 
(October 21, 2005). The NOSB recommended the early expiration date to 
encourage organic producers to phase out synthetic methionine as a feed 
additive by identifying and incorporating natural and allowable sources 
into poultry diets.
    On January 10, 2005, two organic poultry producers petitioned the 
NOSB to extend the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry 
production beyond October 21, 2005. The producers stated that they had 
been unable to develop suitable natural alternatives for synthetic 
methionine in organic poultry diets. The petitioners requested the 
extension to provide additional time for the development of these 
alternatives. The petition included preliminary research results on 
natural sources of methionine that highlighted the challenge of meeting 
the maintenance requirements for poultry with allowed organic and 
natural feed ingredients. Although inconclusive, the preliminary 
results demonstrated that research trials were underway to identify 
natural alternatives that could lead to phasing out synthetic 
methionine from organic poultry production. At its February 28-March 3, 
2005, meeting in Washington, DC, the NOSB received public comment on 
the petition to extend the use of synthetic methionine in organic 
poultry production beyond October 21, 2005. While concluding that 
synthetic methionine was consistent with the evaluation criteria of 7 
U.S.C. 6517 and 6518 of the OFPA, the NOSB did not recommend a full 
five-year allowance for the material. The Board continued to express 
its strong preference for the development of natural methionine sources 
for organic poultry production. Therefore, the NOSB recommended that 
synthetic methionine remain on the National List but only until October 
1, 2008. In response to this recommendation, the Secretary amended 
Sec.  205.603(d)(1) of the National List on October 21, 2005 (70 FR 
61217), to allow the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry 
production until October 1, 2008.
    In December 2007, a coalition of producers identified as the 
Methionine Task Force (MTF) filed a petition requesting that Sec.  
205.603(d)(1) be amended by removing the expiration date of ``October 
1, 2008.'' They also requested that in the future methionine receive 
the standard sunset review process for materials on the National List. 
Their petition addressed the status of the most viable alternatives to 
synthetic methionine and stated that none of the alternatives were yet 
commercially viable. Additionally, AMS received six comments supporting 
the re-listing of synthetic methionine in response to the December 28, 
2007 (72 FR 73667), Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing 
the 2008 Sunset Review of 12 substances on the National List. Because 
methionine was due to expire on October 1, 2008, as established by 
rulemaking, it was not included among the 12 substances in the 2008 
Sunset Review.
    The NOSB evaluated public comment on the petition to extend the use 
of synthetic methionine in organic poultry production beyond October 1, 
2008, and also considered comments on the subject from its November 
2007 meeting. The NOSB determined that while certain allowable organic 
and natural sources of methionine existed, they were not available in 
sufficient supplies to meet poultry producers' needs. Thus, the NOSB 
concluded that synthetic methionine was a necessary component of a 
nutritionally adequate diet for organic poultry, and, therefore, 
essential to organic production. The Board also concluded that 
terminating the allowance for its use would disrupt the well-
established organic poultry market and cause substantial economic harm 
to organic poultry producers but did not recommend a full five-year 
allowance for the material. The NOSB and stakeholders including the MTF 
agreed that the organic feed sector would continue to research and 
develop sufficient supplies of allowable organic and natural sources in 
the interim and thus the NOSB recommended to extend the use of 
methionine for two more years. The Secretary concurred with the NOSB 
recommendation to extend the use of synthetic methionine in poultry 
production until October 1, 2010, and amended the regulation 
accordingly on September 18, 2008 (73 FR 54057).
    The MTF submitted a new petition on July 31, 2009, requesting a 
five-year extension on the allowance for synthetic methionine. The 
request proposed to limit the total amount of synthetic methionine to 
be fed over the life of the bird calculated as the average pounds of 
the material per ton of feed. The MTF petition proposed these limits at 
4 pounds for laying chickens, 5 pounds for broiler chickens and 6 
pounds for turkeys and all other poultry per ton of feed. The 
petitioners stated that these levels of synthetic methionine are the 
amount necessary to support the animals' basic maintenance requirements 
and would not provide growth enhancement. In requesting the five-year 
allowance, the MTF cited research efforts in recent years that have 
attempted but failed to identify wholly natural and allowable sources 
of methionine capable of providing poultry's basic maintenance 
requirement.
    The NOSB Livestock Committee reviewed the MTF petition and rejected 
it. The Livestock Committee stated that averaging the pounds of 
synthetic methionine fed over the life of the bird would result in the 
unacceptable outcome of even higher levels being fed at certain stages. 
The Livestock Committee instead pointed towards future modifications to 
the livestock feed and living conditions practice standards that would 
lead to higher levels of natural methionine in poultry feed rations. 
However, the Livestock Committee agreed with the MTF that wholly 
natural sources of methionine are not now and would not likely be 
widely available in the immediate future and that extending the 
allowance for the synthetic form was warranted.
    The Livestock Committee proposed an annotation to the synthetic 
methionine listing that reflected their reservations about the 
petitioner's request, but acknowledged that an allowance for the 
synthetic form would be necessary

[[Page 51922]]

throughout the next five years. They proposed to extend the allowance 
for synthetic methionine in organic poultry production for five years 
until October 1, 2015, with a step down in the amount allowed after two 
years. They proposed limits per ton of feed of 4 pounds for laying 
chickens, 5 pounds for broiler chickens and 6 pounds for turkeys and 
all other poultry until October 1, 2012, followed by 2 pounds for 
laying and broiler chickens and 3 pounds for turkeys and all other 
poultry over the final three years. The Livestock Committee stated that 
it had consulted with a number of poultry nutritionists and feed mill 
operators and determined that the rates it proposed were consistent 
with the industry's best management practices. The Livestock Committee 
also recommended that the NOSB apply its sunset material review process 
when considering the allowance for synthetic methionine in anticipation 
of its proposed October 1, 2015, expiration. The NOSB approved the 
Livestock Committee's recommendation in its entirety on April 29, 2010.
    In the final rule published on December 21, 2000 (65 FR 80570), the 
NOP recognized the National Research Council's (NRC) Nutrient 
Requirements of Domestic Animals series as the basis for the livestock 
feed practice standard. The applicable reference for nutritional 
sufficiency in poultry production is the NRC's Nutrient Requirements of 
Poultry, Ninth Revised Edition, published in 1994. The MTF cited this 
publication in its petition and stated that its proposed allowances for 
synthetic methionine were approximately half of the NRC recommended 
levels for maximum growth and production. The MTF also provided data 
indicating that organically produced grains provide a majority of the 
methionine requirement in poultry starter feeds but that 
supplementation with the synthetic form is still necessary to achieve a 
complete ration. The NOSB fundamentally agreed with this assessment 
when it accepted with a modest adjustment the limits that the MTF 
proposed for extending the allowance for synthetic methionine.
    The Secretary has reviewed the NOSB's recommendation and concurs 
that a two-year extension of the allowance for synthetic methionine in 
organic poultry production until October 1, 2012, is warranted. The 
Secretary accepts that the maximum limits recommended by the NOSB and 
as justified by the NOSB for the period October 1, 2010-October 1, 
2012, are consistent with the industry's best management practices and 
would not result in significant adjustments to comply with this action. 
Moreover, the signatories to the MTF petition have indicated that the 
current non-annotated allowance for synthetic methionine has stabilized 
use at consistent rates.
    The Secretary acknowledges the NOSB's intention to lower the 
allowed levels of synthetic methionine over the five-year period for 
which the board recommends that the material remain on the National 
List. The Secretary intends to incorporate the NOSB's recommended 
reductions in these levels through subsequent rulemaking to address the 
allowance for synthetic methionine for the period between October 1, 
2012, and October 15, 2015. As conveyed at the NOSB meeting and 
documented in the transcripts, dividing the NOSB's recommendation into 
separate rulemakings will allow for the continued use of methionine 
beyond its current expiration while also providing the board with the 
opportunity to adjust the maximum levels for the 2012-2015 period, if 
needed.

III. Related Documents

    Since September 2001, four notices have been published announcing 
meetings of the NOSB and its planned deliberations on recommendations 
involving the use of methionine in organic poultry production. The four 
notices were published in the Federal Register as follows: September 
21, 2001 (66 FR 48654), February 11, 2005 (70 FR 7224), April 4, 2008 
(73 FR 18491), and March 17, 2010 (75 FR 12723).
    Methionine was first proposed for addition to the National List in 
the Federal Register on April 16, 2003 (68 FR 18556). Methionine was 
added to the National List by final rule in the Federal Register on 
October 31, 2003 (68 FR 61987). A proposal to amend the annotation for 
methionine was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2005 (70 
FR 43786), and the annotation was amended by final rule in the Federal 
Register on October 21, 2005 (70 FR 61217). A proposal to amend the 
annotation once again was published in the Federal Register on July 14, 
2008 (73 FR 40197), and the annotation was amended by final rule on 
September 18, 2008 (73 FR 54057).

IV. Statutory and Regulatory Authority

    The OFPA authorizes the Secretary to make amendments to the 
National List based on proposed amendments developed by the NOSB. 
Sections 6518(k)(2) and 6518(n) of OFPA authorize the NOSB to develop 
proposed amendments to the National List for submission to the 
Secretary and establish a petition process by which persons may 
petition the NOSB for the purpose of having substances evaluated for 
inclusion on or deletion from the National List. The National List 
petition process is implemented under Sec.  205.607 of the NOP 
regulations. The current petition process (January 18, 2007, 72 FR 
2167) can be accessed through the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Newsroom/FedReg01_18_07NationalList.pdf.

A. Executive Order 12866

    This action has been determined not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed by the Office 
of Management and Budget.

B. Executive Order 12988

    Executive Order 12988 instructs each executive agency to adhere to 
certain requirements in the development of new and revised regulations 
in order to avoid unduly burdening the court system. The final rule (68 
FR 61987), dated October 31, 2003, adding methionine to the National 
List was reviewed under this Executive Order and no additional 
information related to Executive Order 12988 has been obtained since 
then. This interim rule is not intended to have a retroactive effect.
    States and local jurisdictions are preempted under the OFPA from 
creating programs of accreditation for private persons or State 
officials who want to become certifying agents of organic farms or 
handling operations. A governing State official would have to apply to 
USDA to be accredited as a certifying agent, as described in Sec.  
2115(b) of the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6514(b)). States are also preempted under 
Sec. Sec.  2104 through 2108 of the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6503 through 6507) 
from creating certification programs to certify organic farms or 
handling operations unless the State programs have been submitted to, 
and approved by, the Secretary as meeting the requirements of the OFPA.
    Pursuant to Sec.  2108(b)(2) of the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6507(b)(2)), a 
State organic certification program may contain additional requirements 
for the production and handling of organically produced agricultural 
products that are produced in the State and for the certification of 
organic farm and handling operations located within the State under 
certain circumstances. Such additional requirements must: (a) Further 
the purposes of the OFPA, (b) be consistent with the OFPA, (c) not be 
discriminatory toward agricultural commodities organically produced in 
other States, and (d) not be effective until approved by the Secretary.

[[Page 51923]]

    Pursuant to Sec.  2120(f) of the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6519(f)), this 
interim rule would not alter the authority of the Secretary under the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601-695), the Poultry Products 
Inspections Act (21 U.S.C. 451-472), or the Egg Products Inspection Act 
(21 U.S.C. 1031-1056), concerning meat, poultry, and egg products, nor 
any of the authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301-397), nor 
the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 
U.S.C. 136-1364).
    Section 2121 of the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6520) provides for the Secretary 
to establish an expedited administrative appeals procedure under which 
persons may appeal an action of the Secretary, the applicable governing 
State official, or a certifying agent under this title that adversely 
affects such persons or is inconsistent with the organic certification 
program established under this title. The OFPA also provides that the 
U.S. District Court for the district in which a person is located has 
jurisdiction to review the Secretary's decision.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612) requires 
agencies to consider the economic impact of each rule on small entities 
and evaluate alternatives that would accomplish the objectives of the 
rule without unduly burdening small entities or erecting barriers that 
would restrict their ability to compete in the market. The purpose is 
to fit regulatory actions to the scale of businesses subject to the 
action. Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to certify a rule, in 
lieu of preparing an analysis, if the rulemaking is not expected to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    Pursuant to the requirements set forth in the RFA, AMS performed an 
economic impact analysis on small entities in the final rule published 
in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000 (65 FR 80548). AMS has 
also considered the economic impact of this action on small entities. 
The impact on entities affected by this interim rule would not be 
significant. The current approval for the use of synthetic methionine 
in organic poultry production will expire October 1, 2010. The effect 
of this interim rule is to allow the continued use of synthetic 
methionine through October 1, 2012, at levels that are consistent with 
current industry practices. AMS concludes that this action would have 
minimal economic impact on small agricultural service firms. 
Accordingly, USDA certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    Small agricultural service firms, handlers, and accredited 
certifying agents, have been defined by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) (13 CFR 121.201) as those having annual receipts 
of less than $7,000,000, and small agricultural producers are defined 
as those having annual receipts of less than $750,000.
    Based on USDA data from the Economic Research Service (ERS), the 
U.S. organic sector included nearly 13,000 certified organic crop and 
livestock operations at the end of 2008. These operations contained 
more than 4.8 million certified acres consisting of 2,665,382 acres of 
cropland and 2,160,577 acres of pasture and rangeland. The total 
acreage under organic management represents a twelve percent increase 
from 2007. Organic poultry production has steadily contributed to the 
overall growth in the organic food market. ERS estimated that there 
were 5,538,011 laying chickens and 9,015,984 broiler chickens raised 
under organic management in 2008. ERS estimated the number of certified 
organic turkeys raised in the United States in 2008 at 398,531.\1\ The 
Nutrition Business Journal calculated the market value for organic 
laying chickens at $252,000,000 in 2008.\2\ In addition to being sold 
as whole products, organic eggs and poultry by-products are used in the 
production of organic processed products including soups, broths, 
prepared meals, ice cream and egg nog. The USDA accredits certifying 
agents who provide certification services to producers and handlers. A 
complete list of names and addresses of accredited certifying agents 
may be found on the AMS NOP Web site, at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. 
AMS believes that most of these entities would be considered small 
entities under the criteria established by the SBA.
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    \1\ U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 
2009. Data Sets: U.S. Certified Organic Farmland Acreage, Livestock 
Numbers and Farm Operations, 1992-2008. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/Organic/.
    \2\ Nutrition Business Journal. 2009. U.S. Organic Food Sales by 
Product ($Mil) 1997-2008, 2009(e)-2014(e)--Chart 22. Penton Media, 
Inc.
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D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    No additional collection or recordkeeping requirements are imposed 
on the public by this interim rule. Accordingly, OMB clearance is not 
required by Sec.  350(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501-3520) or OMB's implementing regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.
    The AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires government agencies in general 
to provide the public the option of submitting information or 
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. The 
AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote the 
use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide 
increased opportunities for citizen access to government information 
and services, and for other purposes.

E. General Notice of Public Rulemaking

    This interim rule reflects a recommendation submitted to the 
Secretary by the NOSB for extending the use of synthetic methionine in 
organic poultry production until October 1, 2012. The NOSB evaluated 
this substance using criteria in the OFPA in response to a petition 
from the MTF. The NOSB has determined that while wholly natural 
substitute products exist, they are not presently available in 
sufficient supplies to meet poultry producer needs. Therefore, 
synthetic methionine is presently a necessary component of a 
nutritionally adequate diet for organic poultry. However, to encourage 
a transition of industry practices towards decreasing dependence on 
synthetic sources of the amino acid, the NOSB has recommended extending 
the allowed use of synthetic methionine in poultry production until 
October 1, 2012, with maximum allowable limits. The Secretary has 
reviewed the recommendation from the board. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, 
it is found and determined upon good cause that it is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest to give preliminary notice prior to 
putting this rule into effect in order to ensure the continued use of 
synthetic methionine after October 1, 2010, and avoid any disruption to 
the organic poultry market.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 205

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture, Animals, 
Archives and records, Imports, Labeling, Organically produced products, 
Plants, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Seals and insignia, 
Soil conservation.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 205, subpart G is 
amended as follows:

[[Page 51924]]

PART 205--NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 205 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6522.

0
2. Section 205.603(d)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  205.603  Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic 
livestock production.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) DL-Methionine, DL-Methionine--hydroxy analog, and DL-
Methionine--hydroxy analog calcium (CAS -59-51-8; 63-68-3; 
348-67-4)--for use only in organic poultry production until October 1, 
2012, at the following maximum levels of synthetic methionine per ton 
of feed: laying chickens--4 pounds; broiler chickens--5 pounds; turkeys 
and all other poultry--6 pounds.
* * * * *

    Dated: August 17, 2010.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-20977 Filed 8-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P