[Federal Register: November 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 225)]
[Notices]
[Page 68124-68125]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23no04-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics
Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st
Century Agriculture Meeting
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. II, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century
Agriculture (AC21).
DATES: December 9-10, 2004, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day and 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second day. Written requests to make oral
presentations at the meeting must be received by the contact person
identified herein at least three business days before the meeting.
ADDRESSES: Waugh Auditorium, USDA Economic Research Service, Third
Floor, South Tower, 1800 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20036. Requests to
make oral presentations at the meeting may be sent to the contact
person at USDA, Office of the Deputy Secretary, 202 B Jamie L. Whitten
Federal
[[Page 68125]]
Building, 12th and Independence Avenues, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal
Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, Telephone (202) 720-
3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail mschechtman@ars.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The seventh meeting of the AC21 has been
scheduled for December 9-10, 2004. The AC21 consists of 18 members
representing the biotechnology industry, the seed industry,
international plant genetics research, farmers, food manufacturers,
commodity processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups,
and academic researchers. In addition, representatives from the
Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and State, and the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality,
and the Office of the United States Trade Representative serve as ``ex
officio'' members. The AC21 at this meeting will continue its work to
develop a report examining the impacts of agricultural biotechnology on
American agriculture and USDA over the next 5 to 10 years. In
particular, the AC21 will review the progress of four work groups
developing portions of the report, specifically: A work group
developing the two introductory report chapters; a work group on key
definitions; a work group on potential issues to consider; and a work
group on preparing for the future. In this review, the AC21 will
provide comments and suggestions for how the Committee can develop the
reports and move them toward completion. The AC21 will seek to achieve
consensus on the contents of the report. The AC21 will also discuss,
with a view to finalizing, a second draft report developed by another
work group on the issue of the proliferation of traceability and
mandatory labeling regimes for biotechnology-derived products in other
countries, the implications of those regimes, and what industry is
doing to attempt to address those requirements for products shipped to
those countries. Background information regarding the work of the AC21
will be available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/agencies/biotech/ac21.html.
On December 9, 2004, if time permits, reasonable
provision will be made for oral presentations of no more than five
minutes each in duration.
The meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. If
you would like to attend the meetings, you must register by contacting
Ms. Dianne Harmon at (202) 720-4074, by fax at (202) 720-3191 or by E-
mail at dharmon@ars.usda.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting.
Please provide your name, title, business affiliation, address, and
telephone and fax numbers when you register. If you require a sign
language interpreter or other special accommodation due to disability,
please indicate those needs at the time of registration.
Dated: November 16, 2004.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 04-25982 Filed 11-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P