AMS No. 030-09

Joan Shaffer (202) 720-8998

joan.shaffer@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2009—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet May 4–6 at The Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC. Sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 4; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 5; and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 6. 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 the use of the 100 percent label claim on processed products and the strengthening of the on-farm implementation of the principals of biodiversity and conservation; guidance to the National Organic Program (NOP) regarding compliance with the Peer Review requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act and the organic regulations; guidance on standards for the management of bivalves; and a change to the definition of nonagricultural substances. The NOSB also will receive an update from the NOP and will hear committee progress reports regarding work plans and discussion items.

Following publication of the Notice in the Federal Register March 20, comments may be submitted in writing to Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 4004-S, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268, or via the Internet at www.regulations.gov only. The comments should identify Docket Number AMS-TM-09-0014. The deadline for all comments, whether submitted by mail or the Internet, is Monday, April 20. Comments will be available for viewing on the regulations.gov website.

Public input will be heard on Monday, May 4, from 10:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, May 5, from 3:30 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@ams.usda.gov, by facsimile to (202) 205-7808, or by phone to (202) 720-3252, and must be received by close of business April 20. 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.