The Fall 2023 Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) took place in person on October 24-26 in Providence, RI.
The primary purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to give feedback on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items. The meetings also allow NOSB to receive updates from USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.
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OTA's Final Comments Submitted
Compliance, Certification, and Accreditation Subcommittee
- Improving Support for Organic Transition
- Oversight to Deter Fraud: Residue Testing in a Global Supply Chain
Materials Subcommittee
Crops Subcommittee
Handling Subcommittee
Livestock Subcommittee
The Meeting Agenda and Meeting Packet (all proposals, discussion documents, and Sunset Reviews to be considered at the meeting) are available and the comment period is open. As a service to our members, we have created an At-A-Glance Summary so you can quickly identify topics that may impact your organic business. The deadline to submit written comments and sign up for oral comments is September 28, 2023.
Do you use any of the substances listed below? This year, 44 substances on the National List for organic production and processing will be re-reviewed by the NOSB as part of the Sunset Review process. These National List inputs might not be renewed if new information indicates these substances are harmful to human health or the environment, are not necessary because natural or organic alternatives are available, and/or incompatible with organic production. It’s critical that NOSB hear from certified farmers and handlers about whether these inputs are still necessary or whether there are other effective natural or organic alternatives available.
Complete our Sunset Surveys! In preparation for the Fall 2023 NOSB Meeting, the Organic Trade Association has launched a new set of Sunset Surveys to help to facilitate a robust comment process by collecting information about the necessity/essentiality of these substances and delivering the information in a summarized anonymous format to the NOSB. Click the links below to weigh-in on the materials that matter to your organic operation. Each survey is anonymous and takes about five minutes to complete.
Inputs Used in Crop Production
- Ethanol (sanitizer)
- Isopropanol (sanitizer)
- Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate (algicide)
- Newspaper and other recycled paper (weed control and compost feedstock)
- Plastic mulch (weed control)
- Aqueous potassium silicate (insecticide and disease control)
- Elemental sulfur (insecticide, disease control, soil amendment)
- Lime sulfur (insecticide and disease control)
- Hydrated lime (disease control)
- Liquid fish products (plant and soil amendment)
- Sulfurous acid (plant and soil amendment)
- Ethylene (for pineapple production)
- Microcrystalline cheesewax (for mushroom production)
- Potassium chloride - prohibited
Inputs Used in Livestock Production
- Ethanol (sanitizer)
- Isopropanol (disinfectant)
- Aspirin (inflammation control)
- Vaccines (preventive health care)
- Electrolytes
- Glycerin (teat dip)
- Phosphoric acid (equipment cleaner)
- Hydrated lime (external pest control)
- Mineral oil (topical use and lubricant)
Inputs Used in Processing/Handling
- Calcium carbonate
- Flavors
- Gellan gum, high-acyl
- Oxygen
- Potassium chloride
- Alginates
- Calcium hydroxide
- Ethylene (postharvest fruit ripening)
- Glycerides (drum drying)
- Magnesium stearate
- Phosphoric acid (equipment cleaner)
- Potassium carbonate
- Sulfur dioxide (in wine)
- Xanthan gum
- Fructooligosaccharides
- Arabic gum
- Guar gum
- Locust/Carob bean gum
- Lecithin (de-oiled)
- Tamarind seed gum
- Tragacanth gum
While the comment period has closed, tune into the upcoming public comment webinars on October 17 and 19 in advance of the meeting. OTA staff are signed up and will be providing comments.
- Day 1: Tuesday, October 17 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
- Day 2: Thursday, October 19 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
Please click this URL to join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1603283661
The meetings are free, open to the public, and no registration is required, except to sign up for oral comments. Times shown for face-to-face meetings are always in the meeting location’s local time zone. Webinars and commenting deadlines are always based on the Eastern time zone.
NOSB Fall 2023 Meeting dates:
Public Comment Webinars
- Day 1: Tuesday, October 17 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
- Day 2: Thursday, October 19 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
Tune in to the public comment webinars here: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1603283661
Meeting ID: 160 328 3661
Public Meeting
- Day 1: Tuesday, October 24 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Eastern
- Day 2: Wednesday, October 25 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Eastern
- Day 3: Thursday, October 26 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Eastern
Meeting Information:
Marriott Downtown Providence
1 Orms Street
Providence, Rhode Island, 02904
+1 (401) 553-0485