[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 32 (Friday, February 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 11000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03254]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 32 / Friday, February 17, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11000]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-NOP-16-0085; NOP-16-06]


National Organic Program: Notice of Draft Guidance for 
Calculating the Percentage of Organic Ingredients in Multi-Ingredient 
Products; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is extending the 
comment period for the notice of availability of draft guidance that 
appeared in the Federal Register on December 6, 2016 (81 FR 87902). The 
draft guidance document is entitled: Calculating the Percentage of 
Organic Ingredients in Multi-Ingredient Products (NOP 5037). This 
notice extends the comment period for 60 days from February 6, 2017 to 
April 7, 2017. The Agency is taking this action in response to a 
request for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to 
submit comments.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before April 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this draft guidance by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Paul I. Lewis, Ph.D., Standards Division Director, 
National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Room 2646--So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the docket 
number AMS-NOP-16-0085; NOP-16-06. All comments should clearly indicate 
your position and the reasons supporting your position. If you are 
suggesting changes to the draft guidance document, you should include 
recommended language changes, as appropriate, along with any relevant 
supporting documentation. AMS is specifically requesting that 
stakeholders comment and quantify any impacts that the guidance will 
have on certified operations. AMS is also requesting comments from 
accredited certifying agents on the policy related to the calculation 
of multi-ingredient ingredients: How is the industry currently 
calculating organic products that use organic ingredients that contain 
several ingredients? What are the sound and sensible approaches 
currently being used? All comments received will be posted without 
change to www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket, including the draft guidance 
document and comments received, go to www.regulations.gov. The draft 
guidance is also available from the AMS Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic. Comments submitted in 
response to this notice will also be available for viewing in person at 
USDA-AMS, National Organic Program, Room 2646, South Building, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except official Federal holidays). 
Persons wanting to visit the USDA South building to view comments from 
the public to this notice are requested to make an appointment by 
calling (202) 720-3252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul I. Lewis, Ph.D., Director, 
Standards Division, Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 260-9151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice extends the public comment 
period provided in the notice of availability of draft guidance for 
public comment published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2016 
(81 FR 87902). In that notice, AMS announced the availability of draft 
guidance on calculating the percentage of organic ingredients in multi-
ingredient organic products (NOP 5037) and solicited public comments. 
AMS is extending the public comment period, which was set to end on 
February 6, 2017, to April 7, 2017.
    To submit comments, or access the draft guidance docket, please 
follow the instructions provided under the ADDRESSES section. If you 
have questions, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

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

    Dated: February 14, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03254 Filed 2-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P