USDA's National Organic Standards Board to meet in November

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet from November 3 to 5, 2009  at The Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. All sessions are open to the public, as to be read on the USDA's website. NOSB committees will present recommendations to the full board for a vote concerning the use or prohibition of three petitioned substances; the continued use of eleven of the twelve substances due to expire in September 2011; and the technical corrections proposed to the annotations regarding four livestock materials currently allowed for use on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB committees will also present recommendations on guidance for accredited certifying agents, the National Organic Program (NOP), and retail stores on retail certification; on standards for the management of bivalves and for terrestrial plants in containers or enclosures.
 

In addition, the NOSB committees will present recommendations on changes in the current standards to clarify the definitions of the National List; to prohibit nanotechnology in organic production, processing, and packaging; to clarify the labelling and enforcement of organic cosmetics in the marketplace; and to strengthen animal welfare practices for livestock and poultry. The NOSB committees will also make recommendations regarding revisions to the NOSB policy and procedures manual and will discuss their progress on the reclassification of inerts used in pest management materials in crops. The NOSB will receive an update from the NOP and will hear committee progress reports regarding work plans and discussion items. Comments may be submitted online . The deadline for all comments is October 19, 2009. Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may be sent by mail to Valerie Frances .

USDA