[Federal Register: November 21, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 225)]
[Notices]               
[Page 65678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no03-18]                         





Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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 65678]]



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: December 4-5, 2003, 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: Vista C Room at the Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M 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, 202B Jamie L. Whitten 
Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone (202) 720-3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail mschechtman@ars.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The third meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for December 4-5, 2003. 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, 
along with academic researchers including a bioethicist. 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. Items on the 
AC21's agenda include: Continuing work to develop a report examining 
the impacts of agricultural biotechnology on American agriculture and 
USDA over the next 5 to 10 years in two sub-areas, namely (1) 
discussion of issues and concerns related to impacts of plant 
biotechnology products that may be developed over the next 5 to 10 
years, as identified by AC21 work groups, and (2) preliminary 
presentations and introductory discussions related to animal 
biotechnology products that may be developed over the same time frame; 
and preliminary presentations and introductory discussions 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 4, 2003, 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. 03-29230 Filed 11-20-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-03-P