Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board, 54781-54782 [E8-22149]

Download as PDF 54781 Notices Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 185 Tuesday, September 23, 2008 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. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. No. AMS–AMS–08–0083; TM–08–12] Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). DATES: The meeting dates are Monday, November 17, 2008, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requests from individuals and organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting are due by the close of business on November 3, 2008. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Savoy Suites Hotel, 2505 Wisconsin Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20007. • Requests for copies of the NOSB meeting agenda may be sent to Ms. Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA–AMS–TMP–NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008– So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250–0268. The NOSB meeting agenda and proposed recommendations may also be viewed at https:// www.ams.usda.gov/nop. • Comments on proposed NOSB recommendations may be submitted by November 3, 2008 in writing to Ms. Frances at either the postal address above or via the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov only. The comments should identify Docket No. AMS–AMS–08–0083. It is our intention to have all comments to this notice whether they are submitted by mail or VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:54 Sep 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 the Internet available for viewing on the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. • Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may also be sent by November 3, 2008 to Ms. Valerie Frances at the postal address above, by e-mail at valerie.frances@usda.gov, via facsimile at (202) 205–7808, or phone at (202) 720–3252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, National Organic Program (NOP), (202) 720–3252, or visit the NOP Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/ nop. 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 make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling, to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production, and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in Washington, DC, in March 1992, and currently has six subcommittees working on various aspects of the organic program. The committees are: Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Handling; Livestock; Materials; and Policy Development. In August of 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations for the NOP to the Secretary of Agriculture. Since that time, the NOSB has submitted 158 addenda to its recommendations and reviewed more than 333 substances for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its final National Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000 (65 FR 80548). The rule became effective April 21, 2001. In addition, the OFPA authorizes the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and provides that no allowed or prohibited substance would remain on the National List for a period exceeding 5 years unless the exemption or prohibition is reviewed and recommended for renewal by the NOSB and adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture. This expiration is PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 commonly referred to as sunset of the National List. The National List appears at 7 CFR Part 205, Subpart G. The principal purposes of the NOSB meeting are to provide an opportunity for the NOSB to receive an update from the USDA/NOP and hear progress reports from NOSB committees regarding work plan items and proposed action items. The last NOSB meeting was held on May 20–22, 2008, in Baltimore, MD. At its last meeting, the Board recommended the addition of 6 materials with one on the National List § 205.601 for use in crops, with one on § 205.603 for use in livestock, and with four on § 205.606 for use in handling. The Board recommended a 2-year extension of the expiration date to October 21, 2010, on the following three substances: DL-Methionine, DLMethionine-Hydroxy Analog; and DLMethionine-Hydroxy Analog Calcium— for use only in organic poultry production on § 205.603. In addition, the Board completed the sunset review process for 13 materials for use in crops and handling which are due to expire on November 3, 2008, and November 4, 2008. Of these 13 materials, there are 11 substances for use in crops and handling placed on the National List on November 3, 2003, and are scheduled to expire on November 3, 2008. Four substances for use in handling were placed on the National List on November 4, 2003, and are scheduled to expire on November 4, 2008. The Board recommended the renewal of all 13 of the exemptions and prohibitions on the National List (along with any restrictive annotations). At this meeting, the Policy Development Committee will present recommendations regarding revisions to the NOSB Policy and Procedures Manual and the Guide for new NOSB members as well as discuss their ongoing collaboration with the NOP to review the NOP responses to prior NOSB recommendations. The Policy Development and the Materials Committees will present their joint recommendation on the procedures for assessing the need for and requesting third party technical reviews of materials petitioned for inclusion on or prohibition from the National List, or for materials which are due to expire under the sunset review process. E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES 54782 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 23, 2008 / Notices The Materials Committee will present its recommendation to remove materials tabled by the Board since 1992 from the table, allowing them to be eligible for possible reconsideration for inclusion on or prohibition from the National List. The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee will present their recommendations for use as guidance by accredited certifying agents on the certification of operations with multiple production units, sites, and facilities and for the labeling of products certified as 100 percent organic. The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification and the Crops Committees will jointly present their recommendation offering guidance for accredited certifying agents regarding annual commercial availability determinations for the sourcing of organic seed by farmers under § 205.204. The Crops Committee will present recommendations on the materials: Tetracycline (Oxytetracycline hydrochloride), Sorbitol octanoate, Pelargonic acid, and Ammonium salts of fatty acids petitioned for use on § 205.601. The Livestock Committee will present recommendations on the use of fish feed and open net pens in regards to the development of organic aquaculture standards for finfish, and will present recommendations in regards to the development of organic aquaculture standards for bivalves. The Handling Committee will present their recommendations on the materials: Sodium chlorite, acidified, Calcium, derived from seaweed, Propionic acid, and Ethylene—for use in pears, petitioned for inclusion in § 205.605 for use in organic products. The Committee will present their recommendations on the materials: Black Pepper Extract, Buck Hull Powder, Dried Orange Pulp, Chlorella algae, Dumontiacae algae, petitioned for inclusion in § 205.606 for use in organic products depending on final commercial availability determinations performed by accredited certifying agents. The committee will also present their recommendation in regards to the development of organic standards for pet food. The meeting is open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for public input for Monday, November 17, 2008, from 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, November 18, 2008, from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Individuals and organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting may forward their requests by mail, facsimile, e-mail, or phone to Valerie Frances as listed in ADDRESSES above. Individuals or organizations will be VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:54 Sep 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 given approximately 5 minutes to present their views. All persons making oral presentations are requested to provide their comments in writing. Written submissions may contain information other than that presented at the oral presentation. Anyone may submit written comments at the meeting. Persons submitting written comments are asked to provide 30 copies. Interested persons may visit the NOSB portion of the NOP Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/nop to view available meeting documents prior to the meeting, or visit https:// www.regulations.gov to submit and view comments as provided for in ADDRESSES above. Documents presented at the meeting will be posted for review on the NOP Web site approximately 6 weeks following the meeting. Dated: September 17, 2008. Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E8–22149 Filed 9–22–08; 8:45 am] States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture. It is in the public interest to so license this invention as Gary W. Clem Inc. d/b/a ALMACO of Nevada, Iowa has submitted a complete and sufficient application for a license. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless, within thirty (30) days from the date of this published Notice, the Agricultural Research Service receives written evidence and argument which establishes that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. Richard J. Brenner, Assistant Administrator. [FR Doc. E8–22196 Filed 9–22–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–03–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BILLING CODE 3410–02–P Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive License Agricultural Research Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Gary W. Clem Inc. d/b/a ALMACO of Nevada, Iowa, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 6,147,503, ‘‘Method For The Simultaneous And Independent Determination Of Moisture Content And Density Of Particulate Materials From Radio-Frequency Permittivity Measurements’’, issued on November 14, 2000. DATES: (Federal Register) Comments must be received within thirty (30) days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Send comments to: USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 4–1174, Beltsville, Maryland 20705–5131. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: June Blalock of the Office of Technology Transfer at the Beltsville address given above; telephone: 301–504–5989. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Government’s patent rights in this invention are assigned to the United PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0102] Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus in Growing Media from the Netherlands and Denmark Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of Christmas cactus and Easter cactus in growing media from the Netherlands and Denmark. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before November 24, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS2008-0102 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54781-54782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22149]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 73 , No. 185 / Tuesday, September 23, 2008 / 
Notices

[[Page 54781]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-AMS-08-0083; TM-08-12]


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) is announcing a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

DATES: The meeting dates are Monday, November 17, 2008, 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m.; Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, 
November 19, 2008, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requests from individuals and 
organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting are due 
by the close of business on November 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Savoy Suites Hotel, 2505 
Wisconsin Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20007.
     Requests for copies of the NOSB meeting agenda may be sent 
to Ms. Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, 
DC 20250-0268. The NOSB meeting agenda and proposed recommendations may 
also be viewed at https://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
     Comments on proposed NOSB recommendations may be submitted 
by November 3, 2008 in writing to Ms. Frances at either the postal 
address above or via the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov only. 
The comments should identify Docket No. AMS-AMS-08-0083. It is our 
intention to have all comments to this notice whether they are 
submitted by mail or the Internet available for viewing on the https://
www.regulations.gov Web site.
     Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may 
also be sent by November 3, 2008 to Ms. Valerie Frances at the postal 
address above, by e-mail at valerie.frances@usda.gov, via facsimile at 
(202) 205-7808, or phone at (202) 720-3252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Frances, Executive Director, 
NOSB, National Organic Program (NOP), (202) 720-3252, or visit the NOP 
Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

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 
make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or 
prohibited in organic production or handling, to assist in the 
development of standards for substances to be used in organic 
production, and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in 
Washington, DC, in March 1992, and currently has six subcommittees 
working on various aspects of the organic program. The committees are: 
Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Handling; 
Livestock; Materials; and Policy Development.
    In August of 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations 
for the NOP to the Secretary of Agriculture. Since that time, the NOSB 
has submitted 158 addenda to its recommendations and reviewed more than 
333 substances for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and 
Prohibited Substances. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published 
its final National Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register 
on December 21, 2000 (65 FR 80548). The rule became effective April 21, 
2001.
    In addition, the OFPA authorizes the National List of Allowed and 
Prohibited Substances and provides that no allowed or prohibited 
substance would remain on the National List for a period exceeding 5 
years unless the exemption or prohibition is reviewed and recommended 
for renewal by the NOSB and adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
This expiration is commonly referred to as sunset of the National List. 
The National List appears at 7 CFR Part 205, Subpart G.
    The principal purposes of the NOSB meeting are to provide an 
opportunity for the NOSB to receive an update from the USDA/NOP and 
hear progress reports from NOSB committees regarding work plan items 
and proposed action items. The last NOSB meeting was held on May 20-22, 
2008, in Baltimore, MD.
    At its last meeting, the Board recommended the addition of 6 
materials with one on the National List Sec.  205.601 for use in crops, 
with one on Sec.  205.603 for use in livestock, and with four on Sec.  
205.606 for use in handling. The Board recommended a 2-year extension 
of the expiration date to October 21, 2010, on the following three 
substances: DL-Methionine, DL-Methionine-Hydroxy Analog; and DL-
Methionine-Hydroxy Analog Calcium--for use only in organic poultry 
production on Sec.  205.603.
    In addition, the Board completed the sunset review process for 13 
materials for use in crops and handling which are due to expire on 
November 3, 2008, and November 4, 2008. Of these 13 materials, there 
are 11 substances for use in crops and handling placed on the National 
List on November 3, 2003, and are scheduled to expire on November 3, 
2008. Four substances for use in handling were placed on the National 
List on November 4, 2003, and are scheduled to expire on November 4, 
2008. The Board recommended the renewal of all 13 of the exemptions and 
prohibitions on the National List (along with any restrictive 
annotations).
    At this meeting, the Policy Development Committee will present 
recommendations regarding revisions to the NOSB Policy and Procedures 
Manual and the Guide for new NOSB members as well as discuss their on-
going collaboration with the NOP to review the NOP responses to prior 
NOSB recommendations.
    The Policy Development and the Materials Committees will present 
their joint recommendation on the procedures for assessing the need for 
and requesting third party technical reviews of materials petitioned 
for inclusion on or prohibition from the National List, or for 
materials which are due to expire under the sunset review process.

[[Page 54782]]

    The Materials Committee will present its recommendation to remove 
materials tabled by the Board since 1992 from the table, allowing them 
to be eligible for possible reconsideration for inclusion on or 
prohibition from the National List.
    The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee will 
present their recommendations for use as guidance by accredited 
certifying agents on the certification of operations with multiple 
production units, sites, and facilities and for the labeling of 
products certified as 100 percent organic.
    The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification and the Crops 
Committees will jointly present their recommendation offering guidance 
for accredited certifying agents regarding annual commercial 
availability determinations for the sourcing of organic seed by farmers 
under Sec.  205.204.
    The Crops Committee will present recommendations on the materials: 
Tetracycline (Oxytetracycline hydrochloride), Sorbitol octanoate, 
Pelargonic acid, and Ammonium salts of fatty acids petitioned for use 
on Sec.  205.601.
    The Livestock Committee will present recommendations on the use of 
fish feed and open net pens in regards to the development of organic 
aquaculture standards for finfish, and will present recommendations in 
regards to the development of organic aquaculture standards for 
bivalves.
    The Handling Committee will present their recommendations on the 
materials: Sodium chlorite, acidified, Calcium, derived from seaweed, 
Propionic acid, and Ethylene--for use in pears, petitioned for 
inclusion in Sec.  205.605 for use in organic products. The Committee 
will present their recommendations on the materials: Black Pepper 
Extract, Buck Hull Powder, Dried Orange Pulp, Chlorella algae, 
Dumontiacae algae, petitioned for inclusion in Sec.  205.606 for use in 
organic products depending on final commercial availability 
determinations performed by accredited certifying agents. The committee 
will also present their recommendation in regards to the development of 
organic standards for pet food.
    The meeting is open to the public. The NOSB has scheduled time for 
public input for Monday, November 17, 2008, from 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
and Tuesday, November 18, 2008, from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Individuals 
and organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting may 
forward their requests by mail, facsimile, e-mail, or phone to Valerie 
Frances as listed in ADDRESSES above. Individuals or organizations will 
be given approximately 5 minutes to present their views. All persons 
making oral presentations are requested to provide their comments in 
writing. Written submissions may contain information other than that 
presented at the oral presentation. Anyone may submit written comments 
at the meeting. Persons submitting written comments are asked to 
provide 30 copies.
    Interested persons may visit the NOSB portion of the NOP Web site 
at https://www.ams.usda.gov/nop to view available meeting documents 
prior to the meeting, or visit https://www.regulations.gov to submit and 
view comments as provided for in ADDRESSES above. Documents presented 
at the meeting will be posted for review on the NOP Web site 
approximately 6 weeks following the meeting.

    Dated: September 17, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22149 Filed 9-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.