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
NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD (NOSB)
MEETING
February 9-11, 1999
Washington, DC
AGENDA
Tuesday, February 9, 1999 - ROOM 3501 USDA SOUTH BUILDING
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Opening Remarks - Bob Anderson, Chairperson, NOSB
and Keith
Jones, USDA NOP
9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. NOSB Committee Updates/Progress Reports - NOSB
Committee
Chairs
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. USDA/NOP Update - Keith Jones, USDA NOP
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)
1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Public Input Session - Bob Anderson, Chairperson,
NOSB
(NOTE: The length of the public input session will depend on the number of
citizens wishing to make comment. The Livestock Committee
Working Session will begin immediately after the public input session.)
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Livestock Committee Working Session - Fred
Kirschenmann,
Chair
Discussion Topics - In order of priority as
determined by committee chair.
1. Review of NOP Issue Paper public
comments.
2. Discuss use of NRCS practice
standards as benchmark for the NOP.
3. Review of NOSB Livestock
Recommendations as related to manure
handling.
4. Review progress on Honey and
Aquaculture recommendations.
5. Review NOSB recommendation
language on hay for temporarily confined
ruminants.
Wednesday, February 10, 1999 - ROOM 3501 USDA SOUTH BUILDING
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Livestock Committee Working Session (continued) -
Fred
Kirschenmann, Chair
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Joint Crops/Materials Committee Working Session -
Eric
Sideman, Chair Crops and Carolyn Brickey, Chair Materials
Joint Discussion Topics - In order of
priority as determined by the committee
chairs.
1. Review of 1995 list of commonly used
pesticide formulations.
2. Review draft pesticide manufacturers
letter.
3. Discuss/Develop manufacturers
confidentiality agreements.
4. Discuss/Develop material phase-out
guidelines.
5. Discuss EPA paper, "Status Report for
PPDC, Inert or other Ingredients."
Materials Discussion Topics - In order of
priority as determined by the committee
chair.
1. Discussion of NOSB authority over
National List.
2. Discussion of material review criteria
and plan of work.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Accreditation Committee Working Session - Betsy
Lydon, Chair
Discussion Topics - In order of priority as
determined by the committee chairs.
1. Discuss current State and private
certifier enforcement policies.
2. Discuss violation triggers/penalty
levels.
3. Discuss fee structure/previous NOSB
recommendations.
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. International Committee Working Session - Rod
Crossley, Vice
Chair
Discussion Topics - In order of priority as
determined by committee chair.
1. Review/Discuss quarantine practices
compatible with organic production.
2. Discuss future Codex deliberations.
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Board Procedures Task Force Working Session -
Carolyn
Brickey - Chair
Discussion Topics - In order of priority as
determined by committee chair.
1. Review/Discuss existing NOSB
procedures.
2. Recommend Additions/Changes.
Thursday, February 11, 1999 - ROOM 3501 USDA SOUTH BUILDING
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Interdisciplinary Committee on Processing
Principles Working
Session - Joan Gussow, Chair
Discussion Topics - In order of priority as
determined by committee chair.
1. Discuss commenter's suggested
language changes to Committee's
recommendation on "Criteria for
Acceptance of Materials."
2. Discuss labeling options for products
manufactured with synthetic adjuvants and
processing aids.
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Processing Committee Working Session - Margaret
Wittenberg ,
Chair
Discussion Topics - In order of priority as
determined by committee chair.
1. Discussion/Development of Committee
position regarding Interdisciplinary
Processing Standards Task Force
recommendations.
2. Discuss comments received from
retailer questionnaire regarding protection
of organic integrity at retailer level.
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. NOSB Committee Reports and Action Votes - Bob
Anderson,
Chairperson NOSB
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. NOSB Administrative Actions (i.e., next agenda,
dates, etc.)
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. NOSB Executive Session with NOP
Return to February Meeting Information on NOSB
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