AMS Organic Board Meeting to Review Numerous Substances
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing an October 25-28, 2010 meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in Madison, Wisconsin.
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The meeting, which will be open to the public, will provide an opportunity for the organic community to weigh in on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items and to brief NOSB on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.
NOSB Makes “National List” Recommendations, Etc.
The purpose of the NOSB is to make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling (and therefore placed on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances), assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production, advise the Secretary of Agriculture on organic issues, etc.
Sunset recommendations. In addition, the National Organic Program regulations require that no substance remain on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for more than five years without being reviewed by NOSB. Therefore, NOSB must also regularly review substances and make recommendations on their continuation on the list to the Secretary of Agriculture. This expiration is commonly referred to as sunset of the National List.
Agenda Items for October Meeting
Among other things, the NOSB October meeting agenda will include:
Crops Committee. The Crops Committee will present recommendations on the following eight sunset 2012 material listings:
| Section | Material/Expiration Date |
|---|---|
| 7 CFR 205.601 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop |
|
| 7 CFR 205.602 Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production |
|
(See notice for the fifteen sunset 2012 material listings the Crops Committee is deferring for decision until the Spring 2011 NOSB meeting.)
The Crops Committee will also present recommendations to the board on four petitioned materials: ethylene glycol, ethylene DDS, tall oils, and tetramethyl-decynediol. Other Crops Committee recommendations include a review of their prior sunset 2012 recommendations on 7 CFR 205.601 and 7 CFR 205.602 and a recommendation on corn steep liquor.
Livestock Committee. The Livestock Committee will present recommendations on the following twelve sunset 2012 material listings:
| Section | Material/Expiration Date |
|---|---|
| 7 CFR 205.603 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic Livestock production |
|
| 7 CFR 205.604 Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic Livestock production |
|
The Livestock Committee will also present recommendations to the board on one petitioned material, formic acid, and review their prior sunset 2012 recommendations on
7 CFR 205.603 and 205.604. Other Livestock Committee recommendations include issues regarding apiculture and animal health care products/clarifying 7 CFR 205.238(c)(2).
Handling Committee. The Handling Committee will present recommendations on the following 43 sunset 2012 material listings:
| Section | Material/Expiration Date |
|---|---|
| 7 CFR 205.605(a) Nonsynthetic substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic” |
|
| 7 CFR 205.605(b) Synthetic substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic” |
|
| 7 CFR 205.606 Nonorganically produced agricultural products allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as “organic” |
|
(See notice for the six sunset 2012 material listings the Handling Committee is deferring for decision until the Spring 2011 NOSB meeting.)
The Handling Committee will also present recommendations to the board on four petitioned materials: yeast (petition to move from 7 CFR 205.605 to 7 CFR 205.606), pectin (lowmethoxy), glucosamine hydrochloride, and hops (petition to remove from the National List). Other Handling Committee recommendations include a review of their prior sunset 2012 recommendations on 7 CFR 205.605(a), 205.605(b), and 205.606. The Committee will reconsider a prior sunset 2012 recommendation on glycerides (mono and di), and present a colors annotation recommendation.
Materials Committee. The Materials Committee will present a recommendation on nanotechnology and provide an oral update on materials classification.
Compliance Committee. The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee will present a recommendation on the “made with” organic claim and the limitations of 7 CFR 205.101(b).
Policy Development Committee. The Policy Development Committee will present recommendations on three sections of the NOSB Policy and Procedures Manual: Section IV (Establishing Ad-hoc Committees), Section V (NOP/NOSB Collaboration), and Section VIII Recommendations on sunset Review Policy). Additionally, they will present a recommendation to update the NOSB New Member Guide.
Other documents, including the complete meeting agenda, recommendation packet and committee discussion documents are available here.