AMS No. 062-06

Joan Shaffer (202) 720-8998

joan.shaffer@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2006 - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet April 19-20 at the Ramada Conference Center, 1450 South Atherton Street, State College, Penn. Meeting sessions will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. April 19, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 20. All sessions are open to the public.

NOSB committees (Crops, Livestock, Handling) will present and propose, to the full board, recommendations concerning the continued use or prohibition of substances being reviewed under the Organic Food Production Act’s sunset provisions for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB will then vote on these recommendations. The NOSB also will receive an update from USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) and hear committee progress reports regarding work plans and proposed actions. The NOSB will receive presentations from the Aquaculture Working Group and Pet Food Task Force.

Time is scheduled on Wednesday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., and Thursday, April 20, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for public input. Those wishing to provide comments to the NOSB should mail their requests to Katherine E. Benham, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4008-So., AG Stop 0268, Washington, D.C. 20250-0200 or send requests by fax to (202) 205-7808 or by e-mail to Katherine.benham@usda.gov by close of business April 7, 2006. If time remains, sign-up for additional public input will be allowed at the meeting.

Immediately preceding the NOSB meeting, on April 18-19, will be an Organic Dairy Symposium consisting of four expert panels that will provide information to the NOP and the NOSB regarding the role of pasture in organic dairy production. The four panels are: Pasture

and Resource Management; Animal and Herd Health Management; Dairy Production, Compliance and Enforcement; and Market Expectations and Perceptions. Details of the symposium will appear on the NOP website as soon as available. For more information, call (202) 720-3252.

For additional information, see the NOP home page at www.ams.usda.gov/nop