[Federal Register: October 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 205)]
[Notices]               
[Page 60311-60312]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc07-35]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service

 
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, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: The meeting dates are November 28, 2007, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 
November 29, 2007, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Waugh Auditorium, USDA Economic Research Service, Third 
Floor, South Tower, 1800 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Telephone (202) 
720-3817.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The seventeenth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for November 28-29, 2007. The AC21 consists of 23 members 
representing the biotechnology industry, farmers, food manufacturers, 
commodity processors and shippers, livestock handlers, 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, the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, and the National Association of State Departments of 
Agriculture serve as ``ex officio'' members. At this meeting, there 
will be several objectives: (1) To complete all substantive work on a 
paper addressing the question, ``What issues should USDA consider 
regarding coexistence among diverse agricultural systems in a dynamic, 
evolving, and complex marketplace?'' and develop a plan for finalizing 
the paper and presenting it to the Office of the Secretary, USDA; (2) 
to discuss the new Biotechnology Quality Management System proposed by 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and offer views on a 
series of questions relating to its implementation; and (3) to plan 
initial AC21 work related to transgenic animals. Background information 
regarding the work of the AC21 will be available on the USDA Web site 
at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=BIOTECH&parentnav=AGRICULTURE&navtype=RT
.

    Requests to make oral presentations at the meeting may be sent to 
Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy 
Secretary, USDA, 202 B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th Street 
and Jefferson Drive, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Telephone (202) 720-
3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail Michael.schechtman@ars.usda.gov. On 
November 28, 2007, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made 
for oral presentations of no more than five minutes each in duration. 
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. 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 Dianne.harmon@ars.usda.gov at 
least five business 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

[[Page 60312]]

indicate those needs at the time of registration.

    Dated: October 16, 2007.
Jeremy Stump,
Senior Advisor for International and Homeland Security Affairs and 
Biotechnology.
 [FR Doc. E7-20914 Filed 10-23-07; 8:45 am]

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