[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52679-52680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21355]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-12-0040; NOP-12-12]


Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, (5 U.S.C. App.), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is 
announcing an upcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board 
(NOSB). Written public comments are invited in advance of the meeting, 
and the meeting will include scheduled time for oral comments from the 
public.

DATES: The meeting will be held October 15-18, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 6 
p.m. each day. The deadline for public comments in advance of the 
meeting is Monday, September 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Biltmore Hotel, 11 
Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903. Information and instructions 
pertaining to the meeting are posted at the following Web site address: 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings. For printed materials, write to 
Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Special Assistant, National Organic Standards 
Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2648-So., Mail 
Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; Email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Special 
Assistant, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Room 2648-So., Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 organic production, and to advise the 
Secretary on other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods 
Production Act (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522). The NOSB currently has seven 
subcommittees working on various aspects of the organic program. The 
subcommittees are: Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; 
Handling; Livestock; Materials; Policy Development; and the ad hoc 
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
    The primary purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity 
for the organic community to weigh in on proposed NOSB recommendations 
and discussion items. These meetings also allow the NOSB to receive 
updates from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) on issues 
pertaining to organic agriculture.
    The meeting will be open to the public. The meeting agenda, NOSB 
proposals and discussion documents, instructions for submitting and 
viewing public comments, and instructions for requesting a time slot 
for oral comments are available on the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings. The discussion documents and proposals 
encompass a wide range of topics, including: substances petitioned to 
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), 
information on research priorities for organic agriculture, updates 
from working groups on technical issues, and amendments to the NOSB 
Policies and Procedures Manual.
    Written public comments will be accepted through September 24, 2012 
via www.regulations.gov. Comments received after that date may not be 
reviewed by the NOSB before the meeting. The NOP strongly prefers 
comments to be submitted electronically, however, written comments may 
also be submitted by September 24, 2012 via mail to Ms. Michelle 
Arsenault, Special Assistant, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-
AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2648-S, Mail Stop 0268, 
Washington, DC 20250-0268. Instructions for viewing all comments are 
posted at www.regulations.gov and http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings.
    The NOSB has scheduled time for oral comments from the public, and 
will accommodate as many individuals and organizations as possible 
during these sessions. Individuals and organizations wishing to make 
oral presentations at the meeting must pre-register to request

[[Page 52680]]

one time slot by visiting http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings or by 
calling (202) 720-3252. All persons making oral presentations should 
also provide their comments in advance through the written comment 
process. Written submissions may contain supplemental information other 
than that presented in the oral presentation. Persons submitting 
written comments at the meeting are asked to provide sixteen copies. 
The meeting hotel is ADA Compliant, and the USDA provides reasonable 
accommodation to the individuals with disabilities where appropriate. 
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these public 
meetings, please notify Michelle Arsenault at [email protected] or 
202.720.0081. Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made 
on a case-by-case basis.

    Dated: August 22, 2012.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21355 Filed 8-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P