WASHINGTON, March 11, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will have a public meeting in La Jolla, California, from April 27-30, 2015. In advance of the meeting, AMS is accepting public comments.
The meeting of the board, which occurs twice a year, provides a public forum for the organic community to weigh-in on issues concerning organic production and processing.
During the meeting, the board will address several petitions pertaining to changes to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, including several substances due to sunset in 2016 and 2017. The agenda of topics and current proposals are available at www.ams.usda.gov/nosbmeetings (select “April 27-30, 2015” from the drop-down menu).
The meeting will take place at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, Calif. Written comments on the proposals can be submitted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at www.regulations.gov. While the meeting is open to the public, AMS invites those interested in sharing comments orally at the meeting to register in advance. You must pre-register to provide oral comments no later than April 7, 2015. More information about commenting requirements is available at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings.
The NOSB is an advisory committee of organic community and stakeholder representatives established by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The board recommends whether substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling, assists in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production, and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on other aspects of the organic regulations.
Twice a year, the board convenes to listen to public comments, discuss specific items pertaining to organic agriculture, and vote on recommendations for the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) to consider. Currently, the NOSB has six subcommittees working on various topics of interest to the NOP. The subcommittees are: Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Handling; Livestock; Materials/ Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO); and Policy Development.
To receive further information about the meeting or to request copies of available materials, please contact Michelle Arsenault, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2646-So., Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; nosb@ams.usda.gov.
The NOP, part of the Agricultural Marketing Service, is responsible for ensuring the integrity of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s organic agricultural products in the United States and throughout the world. More information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
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