Federal Register Notices
[Federal Register: January 21, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 3546-3547]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ja09-42]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child
Labor and Forced
Labor in Imported Agricultural Products
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Request for Applications.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requests nominations of individuals to serve as a non-government member of the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products (Consultative
Group). On June 18, 2008, the President signed into law the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Act), also known as the 2008 Farm Bill. The Act provides for the creation of the Consultative Group.
DATES: Applications must be received prior to 5 p.m. on March 9, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit applications by any of the following methods:
--USDA: Applications should be sent by mail to the Office of
Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Stop 1040, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20250; by hand (including DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) to the
Office of Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign Agricultural Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4133-S, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Washington, DC 20250; by e-mail to: kathryn.ting@fas.usda.gov; or by fax to (202) 720-0340.
--U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): Applications should be sent by mail
or by hand (including DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) to the Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Ave., NW., Room S-5317, Washington, DC 20210; by e-mail to:
rigby.rachel@dol.gov or
castro.charita@dol.gov; or by fax to (202) 693-4830.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Negotiations and
Agreements by fax on (202) 720-0340; by email addressed to
kathryn.ting@fas.usda.gov; or by mail addressed to the Office of
Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Stop 1040, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20250.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use
of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products was
established by section 3205 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act
of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). Interested parties are invited to submit
applications for membership in the Consultative Group to the USDA or DOL as specified in the Submission of Applications paragraph below.
Duties
The Consultative Group will develop recommendations relating to a
standard set of practices for independent, third-party monitoring and
verification for the production, processing, and distribution of
agricultural products or commodities to reduce the likelihood that
agricultural products or commodities imported into the United States
are produced with the use of forced labor or child labor.
Recommendations developed by the Consultative Group will be submitted
to the Secretary of Agriculture by June 18, 2010. Thereafter, the
Consultative Group will continue to advise the Secretary as necessary.
Membership
The Consultative Group will be composed of a total of 13 members,
including two officials from USDA, one of whom will serve as the
chairperson; the Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs, DOL;
and one representative from the Department of State. As required under
section 3205(d) of the Act, the Consultative Group will also include:
- Three members to represent private agriculture-related
enterprises, which may include retailers, food processors, importers,
and producers, of whom at least one member shall be an importer, food
processor, or retailer who utilizes independent, third-party supply
chain monitoring for forced labor or child labor;
- Two members to represent institutions of higher education
and research institutions, as determined appropriate by the Bureau of
International Labor Affairs, DOL;
- One member to represent an organization that provides
independent, third-party certification services for labor standards for
producers or importers of agricultural commodities or products; and
- Three members to represent organizations described in
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that have
expertise on the issues of international child labor and do not possess
a conflict of interest associated with establishment of the guidelines
issued under section 3205(c)(2) of the Act, as determined by the Bureau
of International Labor Affairs, DOL, including representatives from
consumer organizations and trade unions, if appropriate.
Terms of Service
- Members shall serve through December 31, 2012;
- The Consultative Group shall meet no fewer than four times
per year in person in Washington, DC or through alternative media;
- The Consultative Group shall make its recommendations to
the Secretary of Agriculture no later than June 18, 2010. Thereafter,
the Consultative Group will continue to advise the Secretary as
necessary;
- Members of the Consultative Group shall serve without
compensation; <bullet> Travel and lodging expenses will be borne by each member;
and
- Meetings of the Consultative Group will be closed to the
public.
Submission of Applications
- Membership in the Consultative Group is open to all
individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, mental or physical handicap, marital status, or sexual
orientation.
- All applications must include the following information:
(1) Brief summary explaining the candidate's qualifications to
serve as a member of the Consultative Group;
(2) Statement specifying the non-government membership category for
which the candidate is best qualified (private agriculture-related
enterprises, higher education and research institutions, etc.);
(3) Resume;
(4) Contact information of candidate; and
(5) Completed copy of form AD-755, "Advisory Committee Membership
Background Information."
Applications from candidates of private agriculture-related
enterprises and independent, third-party certification services must be
sent to the USDA contact listed above.
Applications from candidates of
higher education, research institutions, and 501(c)(3) organizations
must be sent to the DOL contact listed above.
Member Selection
The requested applications will assist U.S. Government agencies in
making appointments to the Consultative Group. Other qualified
individuals may be considered in addition to those who submit
applications in response to this notice.
Signed at Washington, DC on January 12, 2009.
Constance Jackson,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1005 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
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