Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[TM-99-00-2]

Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: June 8, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; June 9, 1999, from

9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and, June 10, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(EST).

PLACE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Room 3109-South Building, Washington, DC 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, DC 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. 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, DC, in March 1992 and currently has seven 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, NOSB provided its initial recommendations for the

National Organic Program (NOP) to the Secretary of Agriculture and

since that time it has submitted 30 addenda to the recommendations and

reviewed more than 170 substances for inclusion on the National List of

Allowed and Prohibited

[[Page 28155]]

Substances. The last meeting of the NOSB was held February 9-11, 1999,

in Washington, DC.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its proposed rule

for the NOP 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 NOP's proposed rule's

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 are being 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 NOSB to receive committee reports from its standing

and ad hoc committees and address issues that arose from the February

1999 NOSB meeting. These issues include, wild caught salmon, the NOP

recommendations on manure use in vegetable production, a mock materials

review, and enforcement criteria. At the meeting the Agency will give a

status report on the proposed rule, report on the 27th Codex Committee

meeting on Food Labeling, and report on other trade related issues.

Copies of the NOSB meeting agenda can be requested from Karen Thomas,

Room 2510-South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS,

Transportation and Marketing, National Organic Program, P.O. Box 96456,

Washington, DC 20090-6456, or by phone at (202) 690-3655, or by

accessing the NOP website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

TYPE OF MEETING: All meetings will be open to the public. NOSB has

scheduled time for public input on Tuesday, June 8, 1999, from 1:30

p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Room 3109-S. Individuals and organizations

wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting should forward

their request to Ms. Thomas at the above address, or by FAX to (202)

205-7808, by the close of business June 4, 1999. While persons wishing

to make a presentation may sign up at the door, advance registration

will ensure an opportunity to speak during the 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 any oral presentation that is made

at the meeting. 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: May 21, 1999.

Eileen S. Stommes,

Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.

[FR Doc. 99-13355 Filed 5-21-99; 1:08 pm]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P