[Federal Register: October 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 195)] [Notices] [Page 54858] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08oc99-57] ======================================================================== 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 54858]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [TM-00-01] 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: October 25, 1999, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; October 26, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 27, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and October 28, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time each day). 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.) requires 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 of 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; 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 June 8-10, 1999, in Washington, D.C. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its proposed NOP rule in the Federal Register on December 16, 1997 (62 FR 65849). A notice extending 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, three issue papers for which public comment was requested by USDA were published in the Federal Register (63 FR 57624-57626). These papers addressed certain issues raised during the 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 Issue Paper 3--Termination of Certification by Private Certifiers. Comments received on these papers will be considered during the development of a revised NOP 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 review and make recommendations on 16 materials to be included on the proposed National List. The 16 materials are: Crop Production Materials: Potassium Bicarbonate (only for control of crop disease); Amino Acids (for use in soil fertility management); and Ethylene (only with activated charcoal for pineapple fruit induction). Livestock Production Materials: Glycerin (only as a topical antiseptic); Lanolin Creme (only as a topical antiseptic); Phosphoric Acid (as a sanitizer); Amino Acids (as feed additives); Chlorhexidine (only as a teat dip); Enzymes (as feed additives); and Parasiticides (such as Fenbenadazole, Lvermectin, and Levasole). Processing Materials: Amino Acids; Plant and Yeast Enzymes; Ethylene (only for use on tropical dried fruit); Waxes (including shellac, beeswax, and ammonium soaps); Magnesium Chloride (natural and refined) and Phospolic Acid (as a sanitizer). Copies of the NOSB meeting agenda can be requested from Mrs. Toni Strother, Room 2510-South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS, T&M, NOP, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, by phone at (202) 720-3252 or by accessing the NOP website at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop after October 7, 1999. Type of Meeting All meetings will be open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for public input on Monday, October 25, 1999, from 1:15 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Room 3501-So. Individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting should forward the request to Mrs. Strother at the above address or by FAX to (202) 205-7808 by close of business October 21, 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 Mrs. Strother after the meeting at the above address. All persons submitting written comments should provide 20 copies. Dated: October 6, 1999. Eileen S. Stommes, Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing. [FR Doc. 99-26511 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P