AMS 174-08

Joan Shaffer (202) 720-8998

joan.shaffer@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet November 17-19 at The Savoy Suites Hotel, 2505 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20007. Sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 17; 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 18; and 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2008. All sessions are open to the public.

NOSB committees will present recommendations to the full board for a vote concerning the use or prohibition of 13 petitioned substances for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances; revisions to the NOSB policy and procedures manual and the Guide for New NOSB Members; guidance for accredited certifying agents regarding annual commercial availability determinations for organic seed sourcing by farmers under § 205.204; recommendations on standards for organic aquaculture, including the use of fish meal and oil as feed , open cage net pens and the management of bivalves; and recommendations on standards for organic pet food. 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 Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268, or via the internet at www.regulations.gov only. The comments should identify Docket Number AMS-AMS-08-0083. The deadline for all comments, whether submitted by mail or the internet, is Monday, November 3, 2008. Comments will be available for viewing on the regulations.gov website.

Time for public input on Monday, November 17, is from 10:45 a.m., to 5:00 p.m.; and on Tuesday, November 18, from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.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 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 November 3. 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.