0581-AD28 201410 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0581 Agricultural Marketing Service AMS 0500 Department of Agriculture USDA National Organic Program, Peer Review Panel (NOP-12-0018)

This action would amend the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations concerning the Peer Review Panel to remove the requirement to establish a peer review panel pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). In its place, we would retain the requirement for an annual peer review, but have the review conducted by an independent, third-party panel of experts. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 provides for the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a peer review panel to assist in the evaluation of applicants for accreditation as certifying agents under the NOP. OFPA does not specify that the peer review panel must be conducted under FACA.

]]> Routine and Frequent Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Completed Actions No No 7 CFR 205 7 USC 6501 No Withdrawn 09/11/2014 No No Federal Local State Tribal No No No No Melissa Bailey Deputy Administrator, Fair Trade Practices Program 0581 Agricultural Marketing Service AMS 202 720-0219 melissa.bailey@usda.gov 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20250-0237