UPDATE: Rescheduled Fall 2025 NOSB Meeting Set for January 13–14
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) met on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 13–14, 2026, in a virtual-only format. This abbreviated meeting replaced the originally scheduled in-person November 2025 meeting in Omaha, NE, which was impacted by the federal government shutdown.
NOSB Fall 2025 Rescheduled Meeting Report
OTA Engagement
OTA previously submitted comprehensive written comments in advance of the original Fall 2025 agenda, which you can review here. Following the meeting, OTA will publish a post-meeting report with key outcomes and highlights below.
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.
Organic Trade Association regulatory staff participated in the recent National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting, held virtually on January 13–14, 2026. This meeting replaced the Fall 2025 NOSB meeting originally scheduled for November, which was canceled due to the federal government shutdown.
During the meeting, the Board addressed much of its fall agenda and engaged in substantive discussion on several key issues, including risk-based certification, the use of synthetic compostable polymers in organic compost, and the slate of National List materials undergoing sunset review.
The Board also heard updates from National Organic Program Deputy Director Dr. Jenny Tucker, who shared insights on recent import oversight and enforcement efforts, as well as ongoing work to improve efficiency and streamline the organic certification process.
OTA’s full report, including detailed highlights, outcomes, and next steps from the meeting, is available below.
OTA submitted the following comments to the Board:
Sunset Reviews
Sunset Reviews
Materials Subcommittee
Certification, Accreditation, and Compliance Subcommittee
- Residue Testing for a Global Supply Chain
- Risk-Based Certification
- Consistency in Organic Seed Use
- eCommerce Organic Labeling Requirements
The NOSB Fall 2025 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/or sign up for oral comments has closed.
* indicates topics that will be voted on at the meeting
Handling Subcommittee
Livestock Subcommittee
- Proposal: Oxytocin Annotation*
- Discussion Document: Chlorine Materials (petitioned clarification on the use of chlorine materials in livestock production)
- Discussion Document: Integrating Livestock and Agroforestry Crops
Crops Subcommittee
- Proposal: Pear Ester – petitioned *
- Proposal: Synthetic Compostable Polymers *
Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Subcommittee
- Proposal: Risk-based Certification *
- Proposal: Residue Testing for a Global Supply Chain: § 205.671 *
- Discussion Document: Residue Testing for a Global Supply Chain: Regulation Review (§ 205.670 & UREC)
- Discussion Document: Consistency in Organic Seed Use
- Discussion Document: eCommerce Labeling
Materials Subcommittee
Policy Development Subcommittee
- Proposal: Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM) Revision *
- Discussion Document: Sunset Review Efficiency
Rescheduled Meeting Info:
This meeting replaces the NOSB meeting scheduled for November 4 – 6, 2025, which was cancelled.
Location
Virtual
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet to discuss substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2027, and recommendations on organic policies.
During meetings, the NOSB discusses agenda items, and then votes on recommendations to the Secretary in a public forum. For information on previous meetings, visit the NOSB meetings page.
Meeting Information:
The meetings are free, open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
NOSB Meeting dates:
- Day 1: Tues., Jan. 13, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
- Day 2: Wed., Jan. 14, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Watch/Listen to the meeting virtually (use the same link for both days.): Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click this URL to join. https://www.zoomgov.com/s/1609946520
Meeting ID: 160 994 6520