2012-21355. Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, (5 U.S.C. App.), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing an upcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Written public comments are invited in advance of the meeting, and the meeting will include scheduled time for oral comments from the public.

DATES:

The meeting will be held October 15-18, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The deadline for public comments in advance of the meeting is Monday, September 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will take place at the Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903. Information and instructions pertaining to the meeting are posted at the following Web site address: http://www.ams.usda.gov/​NOSBMeetings. For printed materials, write to Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Special Assistant, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2648-So., Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Phone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Special Assistant, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2648-So., Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Phone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 organic production, and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522). The NOSB currently has seven subcommittees working on various aspects of the organic program. The subcommittees are: Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Handling; Livestock; Materials; Policy Development; and the ad hoc Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

The primary purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity for the organic community to weigh in on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items. These meetings also allow the NOSB to receive updates from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.

The meeting will be open to the public. The meeting agenda, NOSB proposals and discussion documents, instructions for submitting and viewing public comments, and instructions for requesting a time slot for oral comments are available on the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/​NOSBMeetings. The discussion documents and proposals encompass a wide range of topics, including: substances petitioned to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), information on research priorities for organic agriculture, updates from working groups on technical issues, and amendments to the NOSB Policies and Procedures Manual.

Written public comments will be accepted through September 24, 2012 via www.regulations.gov. Comments received after that date may not be reviewed by the NOSB before the meeting. The NOP strongly prefers comments to be submitted electronically, however, written comments may also be submitted by September 24, 2012 via mail to Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Special Assistant, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2648-S, Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268. Instructions for viewing all comments are posted at www.regulations.gov and http://www.ams.usda.gov/​NOSBMeetings.

The NOSB has scheduled time for oral comments from the public, and will accommodate as many individuals and organizations as possible during these sessions. Individuals and organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting must pre-register to request one time slot by visiting http://www.ams.usda.gov/​NOSBMeetings or by calling [phone]. All persons making oral presentations should also provide their comments in advance through the written comment process. Written submissions may contain supplemental information other than that presented in the oral presentation. Persons submitting written comments at the meeting are asked to provide sixteen copies. The meeting hotel is ADA Compliant, and the USDA provides reasonable accommodation to the individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these public meetings, please notify Michelle Arsenault at [e-mail] or 202.720.0081. Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Dated: August 22, 2012.

David R. Shipman,

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.