National Organic Program (NOP); Nominations for Task Force Members, 3356-3357 [05-1180]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 14 / Monday, January 24, 2005 / Notices
Estimated Number of Respondents:
100.
Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 225.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of
the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Mr. Terry B.
Bane, Processed Products Branch, Fruit
and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Washington
DC 20250–0247; fax (202) 690–1527; or
e-mail terry.bane@usda.gov.
All comments received will be
available for public inspection during
regular business hours at the same
address. All responses to this notice will
be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All
comments received will become a
matter of public record and be available
for public inspection during regular
business hours at the same address. All
responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627.
Dated: January 13, 2005.
A. J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 05–1181 Filed 1–21–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. # TM–04–13]
National Organic Program (NOP);
Nominations for Task Force Members
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:04 Jan 21, 2005
Jkt 205001
SUMMARY: The National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB) at its October
12–14, 2004, meeting recommended the
formation of two ad hoc task force
groups to develop draft organic
standards. One task force will develop
proposed production, handling, and
labeling standards for food and animal
feed products derived from aquatic
animals. The second task force will
develop proposed organic labeling
standards for pet food. This notice calls
for nominations for members to these
two task force groups.
DATES: Written nominations, with
resumes, must be post-marked on or
before February 23, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent
to Ms. Katherine E. Benham, Advisory
Board Specialist, USDA–AMS–TMP–
NOP, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Room 4008–S, Ag Stop 0268,
Washington, DC 20250–0268.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keith Jones, Director, Program
Development, National Organic
Program, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Room 4008–S, Ag Stop 0268,
Washington, DC 20250–0268;
Telephone: (202) 720–3252; Fax: (202)
205–7808; e-mail: keith.jones@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why Are These Task Force Groups
Being Formed?
Two areas of agricultural products left
unregulated by the current NOP
regulations are: (1) production,
handling, and labeling standards for
food and animal feed products derived
from aquatic animals and (2) labeling
standards for pet food.
The Organic Foods Production Act of
1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C.
6501 et seq.), includes ‘‘fish used for
food’’ within the definition of livestock.
This language provides the authority for
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to establish national standards
for the production, handling and
labeling of these products when they are
to be sold, labeled, or represented as
organic. The USDA interprets the OFPA
language to include both finfish and
shellfish.
During April–May 2000, the NOP
conducted public meetings in Mobile,
Alabama; Anchorage, Alaska; and
Providence, Rhode Island. These
meetings were designed to solicit public
input regarding the potential of
certifying as organic aquatic animals
harvested from aquaculture and wild or
open-sea production. Twenty-nine
individuals presented testimony during
the three public meetings, including
representatives from commercial wild
harvest and aquaculture producers,
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
organic certification organizations, State
regulatory programs, and consumer and
environmental interest groups. In
addition, the NOP solicited public
comment on this issue in a March 22,
2000, Federal Register notice (65 FR
15579). The USDA received a total of 44
public comments on the questions
raised in this notice.
An analysis of the comments at the
time showed little consensus on organic
certification of products derived from
aquatic animals. Commenters both
favored and opposed developing
production and handling standards for
aquatic animals. In order to more fully
examine the issues raised by the
commenters, the NOSB formed an
aquatic animal task force at its June 6–
7, 2000, meeting. In October 2001, this
task force issued a general
recommendation calling for the
development of standards for the
certification of aquaculture production
and a prohibition on the development of
standards for the certification of wildharvested aquatic animals. The full task
force report may be obtained at:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/
FinalRecommendations/Oct01/
AquaticTaskForce.html., or by
contacting the NOP at the address
shown in this notice.
However, since 2001, the interest in
the certification of aquatic animals has
grown significantly. Some USDAaccredited organic certification agents
have developed private standards to
address the market demand for these
products. Further, a rider to the
Supplemental Appropriations Bill,
passed by Congress in April 2003,
resolved any previous uncertainty about
whether organic standards for wildharvested aquatic animals could be
developed under the authority of the
OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6506 (c)). This new
section reads:
‘‘(c) WILD SEAFOOD
(1) IN GENERAL—Notwithstanding the
requirements of Section 2107(a)(1)(A)
requiring products to be produced only on
certified organic farms, the Secretary shall
allow, through regulations promulgated after
public notice and opportunity for public
comment, wild seafood to be certified as
organic.
(2) CONSULTATION AND
ACCOMODATION—In carrying out
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) consult with—
(i) the secretary of Commerce;
(ii) the National Organic Standards Board
established under section 2119;
(iii) producers, processors, and sellers; and
(iv) other interested members of the public;
and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
accommodate the unique characteristics of
the industries in the United States that
harvest and process wild seafood.’’
E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM
24JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 14 / Monday, January 24, 2005 / Notices
We envision the formation of this
aquatic animal task force as the first step
in a deliberative process that may lead
to the development of production,
handling, and labeling standards for
aquatic animals that are to be sold,
labeled, or represented as organic.
The NOP final regulations (65 FR
80548, December 21, 2000), do not
address the labeling of pet food. In the
preamble to the NOP final regulations,
we stated that ‘‘We have not addressed
the labeling of pet food within this final
rule because of the extensive
consultation that will be required
between USDA, the NOSB, and the pet
food industry before any standards on
this category could be considered.’’
Since the publication of the final
regulation, the interest in the labeling of
pet food as organic has grown
significantly. Some USDA-accredited
organic certification agents have
developed private standards to address
the market demand for these products.
We envision the formation of this pet
food task force as the first step in a
deliberative process that may lead to the
development of labeling standards for
pet food that is to be sold, labeled or
represented as organic.
What Are the Task Force Groups
Objectives and Time Requirements?
The general objective of these task
force groups is to develop draft organic
standards for: (1) The production,
handling and labeling of food and
animal feed products derived from
aquatic animals and (2) the labeling of
pet food as organic. Draft standards
developed as a result of the task forces’
work will be forwarded to the NOSB for
review and consideration as
recommendations to the Secretary.
The task force on standards for
aquatic animals will be divided into two
working groups—one for animals that
live and are harvested in the wild or
open-sea and another for animals that
live and are harvested under
aquaculture. These working groups will
develop recommendations for
consideration by the full task force,
which will in turn issue
recommendations to the NOSB. The
NOSB will review and consider the
material developed by the task force and
make recommendations to the Secretary.
The aquatic animal task force will be
chaired by the chairperson of the NOSB
Livestock Committee. Each working
group will be limited to 12 individuals.
To the extent permitted by the pool of
nominees, the task force members may
include wild or open-sea fishermen,
aquaculture producers, handlers and
processors of aquatic animals, experts in
aquatic animal health and nutrition,
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:04 Jan 21, 2005
Jkt 205001
3357
marine conservationists, consumer
representatives, academics, and
accredited organic certification agents.
The task force on standards for the
labeling of pet food will focus on the
development of standards for product
labeling categories and ingredients to be
used in pet food that is to be sold,
labeled, or represented as organic. In
addition to developing
recommendations on labeling categories
and ingredients, the task force will
prepare a list of substances used in the
manufacture of pet food. The pet food
task force will be chaired by the
chairperson of the NOSB Handling
Committee. The NOSB will review and
consider the material developed by the
task force and make recommendations
to the Secretary. The task force will be
limited to 12 individuals. To the extent
permitted by the pool of nominees, the
task force members may include
representatives of makers of dry,
canned, and semi-moist pet foods and
treats, experts in animal health and
nutrition, veterinarians, ingredient
suppliers, feed control officials,
academics, and accredited organic
certification agents.
We anticipate that members of the
two task force groups will be named 60
days after publication of this notice.
Each task force will be formally
empanelled by the NOSB.
Each task force will be expected to
present its completed proposed
standards at the October-November
2005, NOSB meeting to be held in
Washington, DC.
It is expected that the discussions
between the respective task force
members will be handled through
electronic mail and conference calls. No
face-to-face meetings are anticipated.
Candidates with demonstrable
knowledge of organic production and
handling methods and certification
procedures are preferred. Successful
candidates should be aware of the issues
raised and considered by previous
Boards and any subsequent
recommendations. NOSB actions and
recommendations on these and other
issues may be found at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/index.htm.
Candidates should submit their
qualifications in a resume or curriculum
vita format. In addition to this
information, candidates should submit,
if applicable, a ‘‘declaration of interests’’
list. This list should state all direct
commercial, financial, consulting,
family, or personal relationships that
currently exist or have existed with
business entities that may be regulated
through any future rulemaking on these
issues. The declaration of interests list
should cover activities undertaken by
the candidate during the past 12
months.
What Are the Minimum Skills and
Experience Requirements To Be
Considered for These Task Force
Groups?
Candidates for the aquatic animal task
force should have 5 years of
demonstrable work experience as a wild
or open-sea fisherman, an aquaculture
producer, a handler or processor of
aquatic animals, an aquatic animal
health and nutrition specialist, a marine
conservationist, a consumer
representative, an academic, or an
accredited organic certification agent.
Candidates for the pet food task force
should have 5 years of demonstrable
work experience as a handler, processor
or formulator of dry, canned, and semimoist pet foods and treats, an animal
health or nutrition specialist, a
veterinarian, an ingredient supplier, a
feed control official, an academic, or an
accredited organic certification agent.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.
Dated: January 13, 2005.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 05–1180 Filed 1–21–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Office of the Under Secretary,
Research, Education, and Economics;
Notice of the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century
Agriculture Meeting
Agricultural Research Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. II, the United States
Department of Agriculture announces a
meeting of the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century
Agriculture (AC21).
DATES: February 7–8, 2005, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m. both days. Written requests to
make oral presentations at the meeting
must be received by the contact person
identified herein at least three business
days before the meeting.
ADDRESSES: Williamsburg Room (Room
104A), Jamie L. Whitten Federal
Building, 12th Street and Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Requests to make oral presentations at
the meeting may be sent to the contact
E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM
24JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3356-3357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1180]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. TM-04-13]
National Organic Program (NOP); Nominations for Task Force
Members
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) at its October 12-
14, 2004, meeting recommended the formation of two ad hoc task force
groups to develop draft organic standards. One task force will develop
proposed production, handling, and labeling standards for food and
animal feed products derived from aquatic animals. The second task
force will develop proposed organic labeling standards for pet food.
This notice calls for nominations for members to these two task force
groups.
DATES: Written nominations, with resumes, must be post-marked on or
before February 23, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Katherine E. Benham,
Advisory Board Specialist, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Jones, Director, Program
Development, National Organic Program, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone: (202)
720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808; e-mail: keith.jones@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why Are These Task Force Groups Being Formed?
Two areas of agricultural products left unregulated by the current
NOP regulations are: (1) production, handling, and labeling standards
for food and animal feed products derived from aquatic animals and (2)
labeling standards for pet food.
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), includes ``fish used for food'' within the
definition of livestock. This language provides the authority for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish national standards
for the production, handling and labeling of these products when they
are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic. The USDA interprets
the OFPA language to include both finfish and shellfish.
During April-May 2000, the NOP conducted public meetings in Mobile,
Alabama; Anchorage, Alaska; and Providence, Rhode Island. These
meetings were designed to solicit public input regarding the potential
of certifying as organic aquatic animals harvested from aquaculture and
wild or open-sea production. Twenty-nine individuals presented
testimony during the three public meetings, including representatives
from commercial wild harvest and aquaculture producers, organic
certification organizations, State regulatory programs, and consumer
and environmental interest groups. In addition, the NOP solicited
public comment on this issue in a March 22, 2000, Federal Register
notice (65 FR 15579). The USDA received a total of 44 public comments
on the questions raised in this notice.
An analysis of the comments at the time showed little consensus on
organic certification of products derived from aquatic animals.
Commenters both favored and opposed developing production and handling
standards for aquatic animals. In order to more fully examine the
issues raised by the commenters, the NOSB formed an aquatic animal task
force at its June 6-7, 2000, meeting. In October 2001, this task force
issued a general recommendation calling for the development of
standards for the certification of aquaculture production and a
prohibition on the development of standards for the certification of
wild-harvested aquatic animals. The full task force report may be
obtained at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/FinalRecommendations/Oct01/
AquaticTaskForce.html., or by contacting the NOP at the address shown
in this notice.
However, since 2001, the interest in the certification of aquatic
animals has grown significantly. Some USDA-accredited organic
certification agents have developed private standards to address the
market demand for these products. Further, a rider to the Supplemental
Appropriations Bill, passed by Congress in April 2003, resolved any
previous uncertainty about whether organic standards for wild-harvested
aquatic animals could be developed under the authority of the OFPA (7
U.S.C. 6506 (c)). This new section reads:
``(c) WILD SEAFOOD
(1) IN GENERAL--Notwithstanding the requirements of Section
2107(a)(1)(A) requiring products to be produced only on certified
organic farms, the Secretary shall allow, through regulations
promulgated after public notice and opportunity for public comment,
wild seafood to be certified as organic.
(2) CONSULTATION AND ACCOMODATION--In carrying out paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall--
(A) consult with--
(i) the secretary of Commerce;
(ii) the National Organic Standards Board established under
section 2119;
(iii) producers, processors, and sellers; and
(iv) other interested members of the public; and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, accommodate the unique
characteristics of the industries in the United States that harvest
and process wild seafood.''
[[Page 3357]]
We envision the formation of this aquatic animal task force as the
first step in a deliberative process that may lead to the development
of production, handling, and labeling standards for aquatic animals
that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.
The NOP final regulations (65 FR 80548, December 21, 2000), do not
address the labeling of pet food. In the preamble to the NOP final
regulations, we stated that ``We have not addressed the labeling of pet
food within this final rule because of the extensive consultation that
will be required between USDA, the NOSB, and the pet food industry
before any standards on this category could be considered.'' Since the
publication of the final regulation, the interest in the labeling of
pet food as organic has grown significantly. Some USDA-accredited
organic certification agents have developed private standards to
address the market demand for these products. We envision the formation
of this pet food task force as the first step in a deliberative process
that may lead to the development of labeling standards for pet food
that is to be sold, labeled or represented as organic.
What Are the Task Force Groups Objectives and Time Requirements?
The general objective of these task force groups is to develop
draft organic standards for: (1) The production, handling and labeling
of food and animal feed products derived from aquatic animals and (2)
the labeling of pet food as organic. Draft standards developed as a
result of the task forces' work will be forwarded to the NOSB for
review and consideration as recommendations to the Secretary.
The task force on standards for aquatic animals will be divided
into two working groups--one for animals that live and are harvested in
the wild or open-sea and another for animals that live and are
harvested under aquaculture. These working groups will develop
recommendations for consideration by the full task force, which will in
turn issue recommendations to the NOSB. The NOSB will review and
consider the material developed by the task force and make
recommendations to the Secretary. The aquatic animal task force will be
chaired by the chairperson of the NOSB Livestock Committee. Each
working group will be limited to 12 individuals. To the extent
permitted by the pool of nominees, the task force members may include
wild or open-sea fishermen, aquaculture producers, handlers and
processors of aquatic animals, experts in aquatic animal health and
nutrition, marine conservationists, consumer representatives,
academics, and accredited organic certification agents.
The task force on standards for the labeling of pet food will focus
on the development of standards for product labeling categories and
ingredients to be used in pet food that is to be sold, labeled, or
represented as organic. In addition to developing recommendations on
labeling categories and ingredients, the task force will prepare a list
of substances used in the manufacture of pet food. The pet food task
force will be chaired by the chairperson of the NOSB Handling
Committee. The NOSB will review and consider the material developed by
the task force and make recommendations to the Secretary. The task
force will be limited to 12 individuals. To the extent permitted by the
pool of nominees, the task force members may include representatives of
makers of dry, canned, and semi-moist pet foods and treats, experts in
animal health and nutrition, veterinarians, ingredient suppliers, feed
control officials, academics, and accredited organic certification
agents.
We anticipate that members of the two task force groups will be
named 60 days after publication of this notice. Each task force will be
formally empanelled by the NOSB.
Each task force will be expected to present its completed proposed
standards at the October-November 2005, NOSB meeting to be held in
Washington, DC.
It is expected that the discussions between the respective task
force members will be handled through electronic mail and conference
calls. No face-to-face meetings are anticipated.
What Are the Minimum Skills and Experience Requirements To Be
Considered for These Task Force Groups?
Candidates for the aquatic animal task force should have 5 years of
demonstrable work experience as a wild or open-sea fisherman, an
aquaculture producer, a handler or processor of aquatic animals, an
aquatic animal health and nutrition specialist, a marine
conservationist, a consumer representative, an academic, or an
accredited organic certification agent. Candidates for the pet food
task force should have 5 years of demonstrable work experience as a
handler, processor or formulator of dry, canned, and semi-moist pet
foods and treats, an animal health or nutrition specialist, a
veterinarian, an ingredient supplier, a feed control official, an
academic, or an accredited organic certification agent.
Candidates with demonstrable knowledge of organic production and
handling methods and certification procedures are preferred. Successful
candidates should be aware of the issues raised and considered by
previous Boards and any subsequent recommendations. NOSB actions and
recommendations on these and other issues may be found at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/index.htm.
Candidates should submit their qualifications in a resume or
curriculum vita format. In addition to this information, candidates
should submit, if applicable, a ``declaration of interests'' list. This
list should state all direct commercial, financial, consulting, family,
or personal relationships that currently exist or have existed with
business entities that may be regulated through any future rulemaking
on these issues. The declaration of interests list should cover
activities undertaken by the candidate during the past 12 months.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.
Dated: January 13, 2005.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1180 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
