[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11483-11484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05782]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-ST-19-0021]


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 program activities. The 
meeting is open to the public. This notice sets forth the schedule and 
location for the meeting.

DATES: Wednesday April 24, 2019, 1 p.m. to Friday April 26, 2019, 12 
noon.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare, 
5615 N Cumberland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631. Telephone: (773) 693-5800.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Haynes, acting commissioner, 
Plant Variety Protection Office, USDA, AMS, Science and Technology 
Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: 
(202) 720-1066; 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 sponsoring a meeting of 
the Board on April 24, 2019 to April 26, 2019. 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 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 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 FACA; (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 FACA, ``Public Interest in Wide Usage'' (7 U.S.C. 2404).
    Meeting Agenda: The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the 
PVPO 2019 program activities, 2018 Farm Bill amendment to the Plant 
Variety Protection Act, and cooperation with other countries. The Board 
plans to discuss program activities that encourage the development of 
new plant varieties. The meeting will be open to the public. Those 
wishing to participate are encouraged to pre-register by April 15, 
2019, by contacting Jeffery Haynes, acting commissioner, at Telephone: 
(202) 720-1066; Fax: (202) 260-8976, or Email: 
[email protected] .
    Meeting Accommodation: The meeting at USDA will provide reasonable 
accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If 
you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this public 
meeting, please notify Jeffery Haynes at: Telephone: (202) 720-1066; 
Fax: (202) 260-8976, or Email: [email protected] .
    Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-
by-case basis. Minutes of the meeting will be available for public 
review 30 days following the meeting on the internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/PVPO.


[[Page 11484]]


    Dated: March 21, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-05782 Filed 3-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P