[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 61 (Friday, March 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16020-16021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06337]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document No. AMS-ST-16-0120]
Renewal of the Plant Variety Protection Board Charter
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),
this notice announces that the Secretary of Agriculture intends to
renew the Plant Variety Protection Board (PVP Board) Charter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Zankowski, USDA, Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS), Plant Variety Protection Office; 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 4512; Washington, DC 20250, or by
telephone at (202) 720-1128 or by internet: http://www.regulations.gov,
or by Email: paul.zankowski@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) (7
U.S.C. 2321 et seq.) provides legal protection in the form of
intellectual property rights to developers of new varieties of plants,
which are reproduced sexually by seed or are tuber-propagated. A
Certificate of Plant Variety Protection is awarded to an owner of a
crop variety after an examination shows that it is new, distinct from
other varieties, and genetically uniform and stable through successive
generations. The term of protection is 20 years for most crops and 25
years for trees, shrubs, and vines.
The PVPA also provides for a statutory Board (7 U.S.C. 2327) to be
appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The duties of the Board are
to: (1) Advise the Secretary concerning the adoption of rules and
regulations to facilitate the proper administration of the Act; (2)
provide advisory counsel to the Secretary on appeals concerning
decisions on applications by the PVP Office and on requests for
emergency public-interest compulsory licenses; and (3) advise the
Secretary on any other matters under the Regulations and Rules of
Practice and on all questions under Section 44 of the Act, ``Public
Interest in Wide Usage'' (7 U.S.C. 2404). Renewing the PVP Board is
necessary and in the public interest.
The PVPA provides that ``the Board shall consist of individuals who
are experts in various areas of varietal development covered by this
Act.'' The Board membership ``shall include farmer representation and
shall be drawn approximately equally from the private or seed industry
sector and from the sector of government or the public.'' The Board
consists of 14 members, each of whom is appointed for a 2-year period,
with no member appointed for more than three 2-year periods.
Nominations are made by farmers' associations, trade associations in
the seed industry, professional associations representing expertise in
seed technology, plant breeding, and variety development, public and
private research and development institutions (13 members) and the USDA
(one member).
Equal opportunity practices, in agreement with USDA
nondiscrimination policies, will be followed in all membership
appointments to the Board. To ensure that the suggestions of the Board
have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA,
membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities.
The Charter for the PVP Board will be available on the Web site at:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/PVPO or may be requested by contacting the
individual identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this notice.
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age,
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or
family status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means
for communication of program information (Braille, large print, or
audiotape.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice
and TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Dated: March 27, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06337 Filed 3-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
Topics
Species
