[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 11, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61268-61269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22012]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[Doc. No. AMS-NOP-21-0008]
RIN 0581-AE02


Inert Ingredients in Pesticides for Organic Production

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is providing 
additional time for the public to submit comments and information about 
how to update the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
organic regulations on inert ingredients in pesticides used in organic 
production. AMS seeks comments on alternatives to its existing 
regulations that would align with the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (OFPA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 
regulatory framework for inert ingredients.

[[Page 61269]]

Information from public comments would inform AMS's approach to this 
topic, including any proposed revisions of the USDA organic 
regulations.

DATES: The comment period for the notice originally published on 
September 2, 2022, at 87 FR 54173, is extended. Comments must be 
submitted on or before December 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: To submit comments on the ANPR, use any of the following 
procedures:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. You can access this 
ANPR and instructions for submitting public comments by searching for 
document number, AMS-NOP-21-0008.
     Mail: Jared Clark, Standards Division, National Organic 
Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2642-S., Ag Stop 
0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.
    All submissions received must include the docket number AMS-NOP-21-
0008, NOP-21-01, and/or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) 0581-AE02 
for this notice. AMS seeks information and feedback on specific topics 
listed in this notice. Commenters are also invited to provide 
information and perspectives on inert ingredients for topics not 
requested by AMS in this notice. Specific and relevant information and 
data to support your comments is encouraged, including, scientific, 
environmental, manufacturing, industry, or impact information. Comments 
received will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov.
    To access the document, related documents, and comments received, 
go to https://www.regulations.gov (search for Docket ID AMS-NOP-21-
0008).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jared Clark, Standards Division, 
National Organic Program, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2642-S., Ag 
Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice published in the Federal Register 
on September 2, 2022 (87 FR 54173), requested comments and information 
from the public about how to update the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations on inert ingredients in 
pesticides used in organic production. This advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPR) established a 60-day comment period, ending November 
1, 2022. During this comment period, AMS received requests from two 
industry organizations asking for additional time to submit comments, 
citing the complexity of the questions and topic. Further, one 
organization notes that this comment period overlaps with two other 
National Organic Program (NOP) comment periods: Organic Livestock and 
Poultry Standards (87 FR 48562), closing October 11, 2022, and the 
National Organic Standards Board Meeting (87 FR 37495), closing 
September 29, 2022.
    AMS is extending the comment period by 60 days to encourage 
constructive input on the topics raised by the ANPR. The September 2, 
2022, ANPR includes numerous specific alternatives and questions for 
commenter consideration. Included for reference in this docket (AMS-
NOP-21-0008) are several documents to aid consideration and evaluation 
of these questions, including: NOSB recommendations; copies of EPA List 
3, List 4A, and List 4B; National List petition procedures; and a 2015 
spreadsheet identifying inert ingredients used in organic production 
(based on a 2011 survey by the Organic Materials Review Institute).
    Comments received would inform AMS's approach on this topic 
regarding the allowance of inert ingredients in organic production. We 
ask that commenters please fully explain all views and alternative 
solutions or suggestions and supply examples, data, or other 
information to support those views. Substantive, well-reasoned, and 
constructive comments will assist AMS in identifying challenges and 
evaluating alternatives as we move forward with rulemaking.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22012 Filed 10-7-22; 8:45 am]
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