The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which recommends organic policy to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP), held its fall public meeting October 31 through November 2 in Jacksonville, FL. The primary purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity for organic stakeholders to give input on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items. The meetings also allow NOSB to receive updates from USDA’s NOP on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.
Read Organic Trade Association's Full Report on the Fall 2017 NOSB Meeting.
Organic Trade Association also published a Fall 2017 NOSB Resource Booklet to help stakeholders prepare for the meeting. Download as a PDF or browse the flipbook below.
Meeting Details:
MEETING TOPICS & OTA'S FINAL COMMENTS
2019 Sunset
- Crops 2019 Sunset Reviews: §§205.601, 205.602 (pdf)
- Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite), Herbicides, soap-based, Biodegradable bio-based mulch film, Boric acid, Sticky traps/barriers, Copper sulfate, Coppers, fixed, Humic acids, Micronutrients (Soluble boron products), Micronutrients (Sulfates, carbonates, oxides, or silicates of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt), Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Lead salts, Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate)
- Livestock 2019 Sunset Reviews: §205.603 (pdf)
- Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite), Chlorhexidine, Glucose, Oxytocin, Tolazoline, Copper sulfate, Lidocaine, Procaine
- Handling 2019 Sunset Reviews §§205.605(a), 205.605(b), 205.606 (pdf)
- Attapulgite, Bentonite, Diatomaceous earth, Nitrogen, Sodium carbonate, Acidified sodium chlorite, Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite), Carbon dioxide, Magnesium chloride, Potassium acid tartrate, Sodium phosphates, Casings, Konjac flour, Pectin (non-amidated forms only)
Certification, Accreditation and Certification Subcommittee
- Proposal: Eliminating the incentive to convert native ecosystems to organic production (pdf)
- Proposal: Excluded operations in the supply chain (uncertified handlers) (pdf)
Crops Subcommittee
- Proposal: Fatty alcohols (octanol/decanol mix) - petitioned (pdf)
-
No comments
-
- Proposal: Anaerobic digestate - petitioned (pdf)
- Proposal: Strengthening the organic seed guidance (NOP 5029) (pdf)
- Proposal: Aeroponics/Hydroponics/Aquaponics/Container growing (pdf)
- Discussion document: Field and greenhouse container production (pdf)
Livestock Subcommittee
- Proposal: Sulfur - petitioned (pdf)
- Proposal: Hypochlorous acid - petitioned (pdf)
- Proposal: Clarifying “emergency” for use of synthetic parasiticides in organic livestock production (pdf)
Handling Subcommittee
- Proposal: Potassium acid tartrate reclassification (pdf)
- Discussion document: Marine materials
-
No comments
-
Materials / GMO Subcommittee
- Proposal: Fall 2017 Research Priorities (pdf)
- Proposal: Excluded methods terminology (pdf)
- Discussion document: Non-GMO organic seed integrity (pdf)
View ALL of OTA's Final Comments to NOSB Fall 2017 Read OTA's 2017 NOSB Report
MISSION AND STRUCTURE OF NOSB
The National Organic Standards Board was created through the Organic Foods Production Act, a sub-section of the 1990 Farm Bill. The Board is charged with the task of assisting the Secretary of Agriculture on which substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic farming and processing. This 15-person citizen advisory board brings together volunteers from around the United States. It is made up of four farmers/growers, two handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public interest advocates, three environmentalists, and one USDA accredited certifying agent.
Contact
| Gwendolyn Wyard Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs (503) 798-3294 |