[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 39021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14164]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 115 / Wednesday, June 15, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 39021]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-ST-16-0046]


Plant Variety Protection Board; Open Meeting

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a meeting of the 
Plant Variety Protection Board (Board). The meeting is being held to 
discuss a variety of topics including, but not limited to, work and 
outreach plans, subcommittee activities, and proposals for procedure 
changes. The meeting is open to the public. This notice sets forth the 
schedule and location for the meeting.

DATES: Wednesday, July 27, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Board meeting will be held at the United States 
Department of Agriculture, Room 3543, South Building, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Pratt, Program Analyst, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), AMS, Science and Technology Programs, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 
720-1104; Fax: (202) 260-8976, or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the provisions of section 10(a) 
of the FACA (5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), this notice informs the public that 
the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) is having a Board meeting 
earlier than the 15 day requirement of the FACA. The Plant Variety 
Protection Act (PVPA) (7 U.S.C. 2321 et seq.) provides legal protection 
in the form of intellectual property rights to developers of new 
varieties of plants, which are reproduced sexually by seed or are 
tuber-propagated. A Certificate of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) is 
awarded to an owner of a crop variety after an examination shows that 
it is new, distinct from other varieties, genetically uniform and 
stable through successive generations. The term of protection is 20 
years for most crops and 25 years for trees, shrubs, and vines. The 
PVPA also provides for a statutory Board (7 U.S.C. 2327). The PVPA 
Board is composed of 14 individuals who are experts in various areas of 
development and represent the seed industry sector, academia and 
government. The duties of the Board are to: (1) Advise the Secretary 
concerning the adoption of rules and regulations to facilitate the 
proper administration of the PVPA; (2) provide advisory counsel to the 
Secretary on appeals concerning decisions on applications by the PVP 
Office and on requests for emergency public-interest compulsory 
licenses; and (3) advise the Secretary on any other matters under the 
Regulations and Rules of Practice and on all questions under Section 44 
of the PVPA, ``Public Interest in Wide Usage'' (7 U.S.C. 2404).
    The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the PVPO 2016 
achievements, the electronic application system, the report of the 
subcommittee to evaluate molecular techniques for PVP distinctness 
characterization, and PVPO strategic planning.
    Agenda Items: The agenda will include, welcome and introductions, 
discussions on program activities that encourage the development of new 
plant varieties and also address appeals to the Secretary. There will 
be presentations on 2016 accomplishments, the electronic PVP 
application system, the use of molecular markers for PVP applications, 
and PVPO strategic planning. The meeting will be open to the public. 
Those wishing to participate are encouraged to pre-register by July 20, 
2016 by contacting Maria Pratt, Program Analyst; Telephone: (202) 720-
1104; Email: [email protected].
    Meeting Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation to 
participate in this public meeting, please notify Maria Pratt at: 
Email: [email protected] or (202) 720-1104. Determinations for 
reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Minutes 
of the meeting will be available for public review at the internet Web 
site http://www.ams.usda.gov/PVPO.

    Dated: June 10, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-14164 Filed 6-14-16; 8:45 am]
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