The virtual Spring 2021 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting took place April 28-30. The Organic Trade Association's complete NOSB Meeting Report is now available.
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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Check out the Organic Trade Association’s NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting Report for more information on these issues and all other agenda items addressed at the meeting.
The meeting produced a number of critical outcomes for the organic sector.
Of the 4 proposals reviewed, 3 PASSED:
- Allowance of Paper-Based Planting Aids (Crops)
- Clarifications on materials used in Ion Exchange Filtration (Handling)
- Strategy for Recruitment and Talent Management of Organic Inspectors and Reviewers
READ OUR AT-A-GLANCE SUMMARY AND VOTE TALLY
Our Spring 2021 Meeting Resource Booklet is now available! We have prepared this complete NOSB Meeting guide as a service to our members to help explain the topics currently under NOSB consideration. The booklet includes helpful background information and summaries of our written comments on each issue.
The NOSB Meeting Agenda and Meeting Packet (All Proposals and Discussion Documents) is now available.
As a service to our members, we have condensed the 174-page packet into a 27-page summary with helpful background and explanations of all proposals, discussion documents, and sunset reviews to be considered at the meeting.
We have filed comments to the National Organic Standards Board in advance of the meeting.
Organic Trade Association Final Comments:
Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Subcommittee
Crops Subcommittee
- Paper Pots and other crop production aids
- Biodegradable Biobased Mulch Film annotation change
- 2023 Crops Sunset Review
- EPA List 3 Inerts
- Ammonia Extract (OTA Comments)
- Ammonia Extract (TOC Comments)
Handling Subcommittee
Livestock Subcommittee
Materials Subcommittee
- Excluded Methods
- 2021 Research Priorities (TOC Comments)
This year, NOSB will discuss and vote on whether to continue the allowance of the substances listed below that are scheduled for re-review prior to their sunset (expiration) date in 2023 from the National List. These National List inputs may 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. (Learn more about the Sunset Review Process)
Do you use any of the substances listed below? It’s critical that organic stakeholders weigh in by the April 5th comment deadline for the Spring 2021 NOSB Meeting and explain whether these inputs are still necessary for organic production. The feedback will inform the proposal and vote made at the fall meeting (October 2021).
Inform our comments by completing our Sunset Surveys! To help facilitate the comment process, OTA has created a survey system for collecting feedback from certified organic farms and processors. Below are links to electronic surveys that can be used to submit feedback on each individual material currently under NOSB review. Each survey is CONFIDENTIAL and takes about five minutes to complete. The information collected will be passed along to NOSB via OTA’s comments.
Why should you care? The inputs listed below are fertilizers, pest control products, livestock treatments, processing aids, and ingredients currently allowed for use under certain restrictions by certified organic operations. In short, they are production inputs that help to grow and process organic products. It’s critical that NOSB hear from certified farmers and handlers during this open comment period on whether these inputs are essential and/or necessary for organic production and should remain on the National List, or whether there are other effective natural or organic alternatives available.
LINKS TO SUNSET SURVEYS
Inputs Used in Crop Production:
- Copper sulfate for aquatic rice systems
- Ozone gas (irrigation system cleaner)
- Peracetic acid (disinfectant, disease control)
- Passive pheromone dispensers containing EPA List 3 Inerts
- Chlorine materials: Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine dioxide, Hypochlorous acid, Sodium hypochlorite
- Magnesium oxide (viscosity control in humates)
- Calcium chloride (foliar spray for physiological disorders)
- Rotenone (prohibited)
Inputs Used in Livestock Production:
- Activated charcoal (adsorbent)
- Calcium borogluconate (milk fever treatment)
- Calcium propionate (milk fever treatment)
- Chlorine materials: Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine dioxide, Hypochlorous acid, Sodium hypochlorite
- Kaolin pectin (adsorbent, antidiarrheal, gut protectant)
- Mineral oil (intestinal compaction treatment)
- Injectable nutrient supplements
- Propylene glycol (ketosis treatment)
- Acidified sodium chlorite (teat dip)
- Zinc sulfate (hoof treatment)
Inputs Used in Processing and Handling:
- Agar-Agar (gelling agent, emulsifier, thickener)
- Animal enzymes (rennet, catalase, lipase, pancreatin, pepsin, trypsin)
- Calcium sulfate (coagulant, conditioner, firming agent)
- Carrageenan (gelling agent, emulsifier, thickener)
- Glucono delta-lactone (coagulant)
- Tartaric acid (acidulant)
- Cellulose (regenerative casings, anti-caking agent, filtering aid)
- Chlorine materials: Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine dioxide, Hypochlorous acid, Sodium hypochlorite
- Potassium hydroxide (pH adjuster)
- Silicon dioxide (defoamer)
- Potassium lactate (antimicrobial agent, pH regulator)
- Sodium lactate (antimicrobial agent, pH regulator)
NOSB public comment webinars and meeting days are free and open to the public. Registration is not required unless you wish to provide public comment.
Instructions for joining each event will be provided approximately one week before the webinars.
Public Comment Zoom link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1617821182
- Public Comment Webinar Day 1: Tuesday, April 20 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
- Public Comment Webinar Day 2: Thursday April 22 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
Meeting Zoom link: https://www.zoomgov.com/s/1607550391
- NOSB Public Meeting Day 1: Wednesday, April 28 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
- NOSB Public Meeting Day 2: Thursday, April 29 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
- NOSB Public Meeting Day 3: Friday, April 30 from Noon - 5:00 pm Eastern
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. The Board also advises the Secretary on other aspects of the organic regulations. 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.