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Fall is almost here and that means the USDA’s federal advisory board will be meeting to discuss all things organic. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meets twice a year in various locations to listen to public comments, discusses agenda items, and then vote on important topics to the organic industry.
The next meeting is in St. Paul, MN, where the 15-member board will meet over the course of three days from October 24-26.
Why is it important to participate?
The NOSB makes critical decisions about materials that are allowed on the List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). These materials are reviewed by the NOSB about every four years in what is referred to as a “sunset” review.
Over the course of two biannual meetings, they review them for effects to humans and the environment, if organic alternatives exist and if farmers still need them.
If the NOSB determines the substance no longer meets the required criteria, they can vote to remove the material. If two thirds of the NOSB agree then the NOSB may recommend the substance’s removal from the National List.
If USDA accepts the NOSB’s recommendation, then USDA may initiate rulemaking to remove the substance from the National List.
NOSB Members at the 2017 Spring Meeting.
The NOSB needs to know if you- and other farmers - still need and use these materials otherwise they could get taken out of your tool box.
In addition, new materials can be petitioned to be added to the list if there are better or new alternatives. Existing materials can be petitioned to be taken off, this usually occurs when an organic alterative becomes available.
The NOSB also gives important guidance and recommendations on organic policies to the Secretary of Agriculture. These changes can affect the methods organic producers are allowed to use – remember the hydroponic issue that recently roiled the industry.
All this takes place at NOSB meetings.
What can you expect at the upcoming Fall meeting?
Public comments usually occur the first two days and they can sometimes be quite heated -especially surrounding the sunset of materials. Consumer groups show up in masse with the sole objective to get as many materials off the list as possible.
Farmers and manufacturers must also weigh in if materials are still needed.
This fall the NOSB will begin reviewing materials that sunset in 2020. A few of the materials that will be under review include alcohols used to disinfect tools & growing supplies, newspaper or other recycled paper used as a mulch for weed control. They will also review plastic mulch, liquid fish products for fertilizer and ethylene to regulate pineapple flowering.
You can view the full set of crops materials dated to sunset in 2020 here.
