[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 83510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28176]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 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. 85, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 22, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 83510]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-ST-20-0099]


Plant Variety Protection Board; Open Teleconference 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, regulation 
updates, 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, March 31, 2021; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be conducted through teleconference.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Haynes, Commissioner, Plant 
Variety Protection Office, USDA, AMS, Science and Technology Programs; 
Telephone: (202) 720-1066; 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 March 31, 2021. 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. 
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 2021 program activities, the electronic application system, and 
the working group update. The Board plans to discuss program activities 
that encourage the development of new plant varieties and address 
appeals to the Secretary. The meeting will be open to the public. Those 
wishing to participate are encouraged to pre-register by March 12, 
2021, by contacting Jeffery Haynes, acting commissioner, at Telephone: 
(202) 720-1066; 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; 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.

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-28176 Filed 12-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P