83 FR 60373 - Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 227 (November 26, 2018)

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60373]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25572]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 227 / Monday, November 26, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 60373]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[Document Number AMS-NOP-18-0071-NOP-18-03]


Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Public meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic 
Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of 
standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises 
the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation 
of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).

DATES: An in-person meeting will be held April 24-26, 2019, from 8:30 
a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Board will hear oral 
public comments via webinars on Tuesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 
18, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and 
at the in-person meeting on Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 
25, 2019. The deadline to submit written comments and/or sign up for 
oral comment at either the webinar or in-person meeting is 11:59 p.m. 
ET, April 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The webinars are virtual and will be accessed via the 
internet and/or phone. Access information will be available on the AMS 
website prior to the webinars. The in-person meeting will take place at 
the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison Street, Seattle, Washington 
98104-1119, United States. Detailed information pertaining to the 
webinars and in-person meeting can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-seattle-wa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2642-S, Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NOSB makes recommendations to the USDA 
about whether substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic 
production and/or handling, assists in the development of standards for 
organic production, and advises the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB is holding a public meeting to 
discuss and vote on proposed recommendations to the USDA, to receive 
updates from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) on issues 
pertaining to organic agriculture, and to receive comments from the 
organic community. The meeting and webinars are open to the public. No 
registration is required except to sign up for oral comments. All 
meeting documents and instructions for participating will be available 
on the AMS website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-seattle-wa. Please check the website 
periodically for updates. Meeting topics will encompass a wide range of 
issues, including substances petitioned for addition to or deletion 
from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National 
List), substances on the National List that are under sunset review, 
and guidance on organic policies. Participants and attendees may take 
photos and video at the meeting, but not in a manner that disturbs the 
proceedings.
    Public Comments: Comments should address specific topics noted on 
the meeting agenda.
    Written comments: Written public comments will be accepted on or 
before 11:59 p.m. ET on April 4, 2019, via http://www.regulations.gov: 
Document #AMS-NOP-18-0071. Comments submitted after this date will be 
provided to the NOSB, but Board members may not have adequate time to 
consider those comments prior to making recommendations. The NOP 
strongly prefers comments to be submitted electronically. However, 
written comments may also be submitted (i.e. postmarked) via mail to 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by or before 
the deadline.
    Oral Comments: The NOSB is providing the public multiple dates and 
opportunities to provide oral comments and will accommodate as many 
individuals and organizations as time permits. Persons or organizations 
wishing to make oral comments must pre-register by 11:59 p.m. ET, April 
4, 2019, and can register for only one speaking slot: either during the 
webinars scheduled for April 16 and 18, or at the in-person meeting, 
scheduled for April 24-26, 2019. Due to the limited time allotted for 
in-person public comments during the in-person meeting, commenters are 
strongly encouraged to comment during the webinar(s). Instructions for 
registering and participating in the webinar can be found at 
www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings.
    Meeting Accommodations: The meeting hotel is ADA Compliant, and the 
USDA provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities 
where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to 
participate in this public meeting, please notify the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Determinations for reasonable 
accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    Dated: November 19, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-25572 Filed 11-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P