The deadlines to submit public comments and register for oral comments to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) at their spring meeting are approaching! It is critical that members of the organic community submit public comments on the substances up for re-listing or removal from the National List of Allowed & Prohibited Substances (National List) and the other NOSB agenda items.
The National Organic Program recently announced that the spring 2020 meeting will be held remotely. CCOF will share more details as they are announced.
The following substances are up for review for re-listing or removal from the National List:
Crop scope substances:
- Soap-based algicide/demossers
- Ammonium carbonate
- Soaps, insecticidal
- Vitamin D3
- Aquatic plant extracts
- Lignin sulfonate
- Sodium silicate
- EPA List 4 – Inerts of Minimal Concern
- Arsenic (prohibited)
- Strychnine (prohibited)
Handling scope substances:
- Kaolin
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Waxes (wood resin)
- Ammonium bicarbonate
- Ammonium carbonate
- Calcium phosphates: monobasic, dibasic, tribasic
- Ozone
- Sodium hydroxide
- Carnauba wax
- Colors
- Glycerin
- Inulin-oligofructose enriched
- Kelp
- Orange shellac – unbleached
- Starches: cornstarch (native)
- Starches: sweet potato starch for bean thread production only
- Turkish bay leaves
- Whey protein concentrate
Livestock scope substances:
- Butorphanol
- Flunixin
- Magnesium hydroxide
- Poloxalene
- Formic acid
- EPA List 4 – Inerts of Minimal Concern
- Excipients
- Strychnine (prohibited)
Submit Oral & Written Comments
Written comments will be accepted through April 3, 2020 via Regulations.gov using docket number AMS-NOP-19-0095.
The NOSB will host webinars on April 21, 2020 and April 23, 2020 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time for public comment. Those interested in one of the webinars must register before April 3, 2020. Commenters are allotted a three-minute comment slot and can only register for one commenting slot on either day.
Stay Engaged with CCOF
CCOF highly encourages all to submit written or oral comments to NOSB. CCOF will submit written comments and will attend the meeting. Please contact me at pnell@ccof.org for questions or for more information.