[Federal Register: February 17, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 31)]
[Notices]
[Page 7413]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17fe04-24]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 7413]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st
Century Agriculture Meeting
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
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: March 8-9, 2004, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Written request
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: Oasis Room at the Sphinx Club, 1315 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20005. 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 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 fourth meeting of the AC21 has been
scheduled for March 8-9, 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 Committee meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. on each day. 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,
specifically: to review a draft report introduction prepared by USDA
staff; to review the progress of two work groups, one on potential
issues, concerns, and benefits, and one on scenario-setting; to provide
guidance to work groups in adapting the information they have developed
into chapters of the committee report; and to consider preliminary
presentations and introductory discussions related to trends in public
versus private biotechnology research and implications for public
research. The AC21 will also discuss the progress of a work group
drafting a separate report for the committee's consideration 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 March 8, 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,
telephone, and fax number 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.
Edward B. Knipling,
Acting Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 04-3299 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P