[Federal Register: May 18, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 97)]
[Notices]
[Page 27625-27626]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18my01-15]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
[[Page 27625]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[TM-01-04]
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) is announcing a
forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
DATES: June 6, 2001, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and June 7, 2001, from
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Central Time).
Place: Best Western Midway Hotel, 1835 Rose Street, La Crosse,
Wisconsin 54603. Telephone: (608) 781-7000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mathews, Acting Program
Manager, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, P.O. Box 96456,
Room 2945-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20090-6456, Telephone:
(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. 6501 et seq.)
requires the establishment of the NOSB. The purpose of the NOSB is to
make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or
prohibited in organic production or handling, to assist in the
development of standards for substances to be used in organic
production and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the
implementation of OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in Washington,
DC, in March 1992 and currently has five committees working on various
aspects of the organic program. The committees are: Accreditation,
Crops, Livestock, Materials, and Processing.
In August of 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations
for the National Organic Program (NOP) to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Since that time, the NOSB has submitted 30 addenda to its
recommendations and reviewed more than 189 substances for inclusion on
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The last
meeting of the NOSB was held on March 6-7, 2001, in Buena Park, CA.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its final National
Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000
(65 FR 80548). The rule became effective April 21, 2001.
Purpose and Agenda
The principal purposes of the meeting are to provide an opportunity
for the NOSB to: receive various committee reports; receive updates
from the Aquatic Task Force Working Group, the Task Force on Board
Policy for Expert Presentations, and the Task Force on Outreach to
Producers; receive an update from the USDA/NOP; review materials to
determine if they should be included on the National List of Approved
and Prohibited Substances; hear a presentation from the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) on pesticide product labeling; and hear a
presentation from the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA on trade
issues.
The Livestock Committee will present a recommendation to the NOSB
on ``access to pasture.'' The Processing Committee will seek from the
NOSB adoption of its recommendation for clarifying the materials for
which a petition must be submitted requesting a review of a material
for inclusion on the National List of substances allowed or prohibited
for use in organic production and handling; discuss what ``novel''
processes will be allowed in organic handling; and discuss potential
mislabeling issues that might arise in regard to products produced by
uncertified processors. The Crops Committee will present a draft
guidance document on compost tea and vermiculture; draft
recommendations for greenhouse standards; draft recommendations for
mushroom standards; and discuss transitional organic labeling and
transitional organic operations. The Accreditation Committee will seek
adoption of a plan for a Peer Review Panel; make recommendations about
what issues guidance should be provided about on the NOP Website;
present a new certifier outreach report; and discuss the committee's
draft ``Principles of Organic Production and Handling.'' The Materials
Committee will present its materials decision matrix for adoption by
the Board, review materials for possible inclusion on the National List
of Allowed or Prohibited Substances; seek adoption of a policy for
updating the National List; and review committee communications with
the Organic industry.
Materials to be reviewed at the meeting by the NOSB are as follows:
for Livestock production: DL-Methionine (including, DL-Methionine
Hydroxy Analog and Hydroxy Analog Calcium); for Crops: Monocalcium
Phosphate; and for Processing: Potassium Hydroxide, Ammonium Hydroxide,
Cyclohexlamine, Diethylaminoethanol, Morpholine, Octadecylamine.
For further information see http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Copies of
the NOSB meeting agenda can be requested from Mrs. Toni Strother, USDA-
AMS-TMP-NOP, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2510-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington,
DC 20090-6456; by telephone at (202) 720-3252; or by accessing the NOP
website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop on or after May 4, 2001.
Type of Meeting
The meeting is open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for
public input on Wednesday, June 6, 2001, from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., and
on Thursday, June 7, 2001, from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Best
Western Midway Hotel 1835 Rose Street, La Crosse, WI 54603. Telephone:
(608) 781-7000. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral
presentation at the meeting should forward their request to Mrs. Toni
Strother at USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2510-So., Ag Stop
0268, Washington, DC 20090-6456, or by FAX to (202) 205-7808, or by e-
mail to toni.strother2@usda.gov, by close of business May 31, 2001.
While persons wishing to make a presentation may sign up at the door,
advance registration will ensure that a person has the opportunity to
speak during the allotted time period and will help the NOSB to better
manage the meeting and
[[Page 27626]]
to 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.
Written submissions may contain information other than that presented
at the oral presentation. Written comments may be submitted to the NOSB
at the meeting or to Mrs. Strother after the meeting at the above
address.
Dated: May 16, 2001.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12685 Filed 5-16-01; 11:35 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P