Meetings: National Organic Standards Board,
[Federal Register: January 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 15)]
[Notices]
[Page 3675-3676]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja99-29]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[TM-99-00-1]
Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces a forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
DATES: February 9, 1999, at 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; February 10, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and February 11, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3501 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250. Phone: (202) 720- 3252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Jones, Program Manager, Room 2945 South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS, Transportation and Marketing, National Organic Program, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456 Phone (202) 720-3252.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518) of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. Section 6501 et seq.) Reqires the establishment of the NOSB. The purpose of the NOSB is to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on any other aspects the implementation of OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in Washington, D.C., in March 1992 and currently has six committees working on various aspects of the program. The committees are: Crops Standards; Processing; Labeling and Packaging; Livestock Standards; Accreditation; Materials; and International Issues. In August 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations for the National Organic Program (NOP) to the Secretary of Agriculture and since that time has submitted 30 addenda to the recommendations and reviewed more than 170 substances for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The last meeting of the NOSB was held October 27-29,1998, in Washington, DC. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its proposed rule in the Federal Register on December 16, 1997 (62 FR 65849). An extension of the comment period on the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on February 9, 1998 (63 FR 6498- 6499). The comment period was extended until April 30, 1998. On October 28, 1998, the USDA published for public comment three issue papers in the Federal Register (63 FR 57624-57626) The papers addressed certain issues raised during the National Organic Program's proposed rule comment period. The issue papers were: Issue paper 1. Livestock Confinement in Organic Production Systems; Issue Paper 2. The Use of Antibiotics and Parasiticides in Organic Livestock Production; and Paper 3. Termination of Certification by Private Certifiers. Comments received on these papers will be considered during the development of a revised National Organic Program proposed rule. The comment period for the issue papers closed December 14, 1998.
Purpose and Agenda
The principal purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for the NOSB to receive committee reports from its standing and ad hoc committees and to engage working sessions to address issues resulting from the October 1998 NOSB meeting. These issues include, but are not limited to, the International Committee's proposed recommendation on Fumigation, the Livestock Committee's proposed recommendation on Wild Animals, the Accreditation Committee's proposed recommendation on Enforcement Actions, the Interdisciplinary Taskforce's proposal on processing principles and the NOSB's request for comment on criteria for the acceptance of materials used in processing. Additionally, the Agency will give a status report on the proposed rule and characterize for the NOSB public comment on the option papers. Copies of committee proposals can be requested from Ms. Karen Thomas, Room 2510 South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS,
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Transportation and Marketing, National Organic Program, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, by phone at (202) 690-3655 or by accessing the NOP website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop after January 19, 1999.
Type of Meeting
All meetings will be open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for public input on February 9, 1999, from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting should forward the request to Ms. Thomas at the above address or by FAX to (202) 205-7808 by close of business February 5, 1999. While persons wishing to make a presentation may sign up at the door, advance registration will ensure an opportunity to speak during that allotted time period and will help the NOSB to better manage the meeting and accomplish its agenda. Individuals or organizations will be given approximately 5 minutes to present their views. All persons making an oral presentation are requested to provide their comments in writing, if possible. Written submissions may supplement the oral presentation with additional material. Attendees who do not wish to make an oral presentation are invited to submit written comments to the NOSB at the meeting or to Ms. Thomas after the meeting at the above address. All persons submitting written comments should provide 20 copies.
Dated: January 20, 1999. Eileen S. Stommes, Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.
[FR Doc. 99-1646Filed1-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
