Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

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.

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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: 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,

[[Page 3676]]

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. 99-1646 Filed 1-22-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P