National Organic Standards Board Announces Public Meeting to Discuss Policy Revisions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has announced a public meeting slated for May 4-6, 2009, at The Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. NOSB committees will present recommendations to the full board for a vote concerning (i) the use or prohibition of 13 petitioned substances for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances; (ii) revisions to the NOSB policy and procedures manual and the Guide for New NOSB Members; (iii) guidance for accredited certifying agents regarding the use of the 100 percent label claim on processed products and the strengthening of the on-farm implementation of the principals of biodiversity and conservatism; (iv) guidance to the National Organic Program (NOP) regarding compliance with the Peer Review requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act and the organic regulations; (v) guidance on standards for the management of bivalves; and (vi) a change to the definition of nonagricultural substances. The NOSB will also receive an update from the NOP and will address reports about committee work plans and discussion items. See Federal Register, March 20, 2009.