AMS No. 048-07

Joan Shaffer (202) 720-6179

joan.shaffer@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2007—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet March 27–29 at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Sessions will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 27; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 28; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2007. All sessions are open to the public.

NOSB committees will present recommendations for a vote to the full board concerning the use or prohibition of 57 substances being reviewed for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances; revisions to the NOSB policy and procedures manual and adoption of a Guide for New NOSB Members; proposed organic standards for finfish; and the use of cloning technology in organic agriculture. The NOSB will also receive an update from the National Organic Program (NOP) and will hear committee progress reports regarding work plans and discussion items.

Comments may be submitted in writing to Ms. Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268, or via the internet at www.regulations.gov only. The comments should identify Docket Number AMS-TM-07-0032. All comments, whether submitted by mail or the internet, will be available for viewing on the regulations.gov website.

Time has been scheduled for public input on Tuesday, March 27, from 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; on Wednesday, March 28, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and on Thursday, March 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. There will be separate sign-up sheets for each segment.

Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may be sent by mail to Ms. Valerie Frances at the postal address above, by email to valerie.frances@usda.gov, by facsimile to (202) 205-7808, or by phone to (202) 720-3252, and must be received by close of business March 16. If time is available, attendees may sign up for additional public input at the meeting.

For more information, contact Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, NOP, (202) 720-3252, or visit the NOP home page at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.