WASHINGTON, July 17, 2008 –Department of Agriculture officials will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, July 22 on the establishment of the BioPreferred voluntary labeling program. This program will allow USDA to authorize manufacturers and vendors of qualifying biobased products to use a "USDA Certified Biobased Product" label.

The 2002 Farm Bill established a program for the procurement of biobased products by federal agencies and a voluntary program for labeling of biobased products, later named the BioPreferred Program. The 2008 Farm Bill continues and expands provisions related to the BioPreferred Program.

In establishing the voluntary labeling program, USDA must identify criteria for determining which products may qualify to receive the label and specific requirements for how the label can be used. USDA has one primary objective in establishing the voluntary labeling program: to encourage the purchase of biobased products.

The July 22nd public meeting will take place from 1 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Building, Jefferson Auditorium, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250. Pre-registration for this meeting is not required. However, for security purposes and to facilitate a smooth entry into a federal facility, attendees may provide their names in advance as spelled on government issued identification via email to biopreferred@usda.gov. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to enter the building at Wing 7 on the corner of 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, and will be required to present government issued identification.

Those unable to attend the public meeting in person may participate via an audio bridge by calling 1 (800) 857-5233, verbal pass code "Town Hall." For technical assistance, call (202) 720-8560. All callers using the above pass code will be placed in "listen-only" mode during the presentation of information. Participants using the audio bridge may verbally join the "Question and answer" portion of the meeting, by pressing *1 on a touch-tone telephone or by e-mailing questions or comments during the meeting to biopreferred@usda.gov .

Written comments may be submitted through Friday, August 1, 2008, to biopreferred@usda.gov. Copies of the meeting agenda may be viewed at http://greening.usda.gov .

For further information contact, Shana Love, Departmental Administration, Room 209-A Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0103; telephone: (202) 205-4008; fax: (202) 720-2191; e-mail: biopreferred@usda.gov.

To learn more about the BioPreferred program, visit the Web site at www.biopreferred.gov .