The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has released the agenda for its Spring 2023 meeting and registration is now open to make oral comment during one of two webinars on April 18 and April 20.
In addition to oral comment, the public may submit written comments on materials up for sunset from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and other topics on the agenda. Submit comments via regulations.gov. The deadline to register for oral comment and submit written comment is April 5.
The meeting will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 25–27. All information about the meeting, including details on how to comment and registration for oral comment, is available on the meeting page.
The NOSB meets twice annually for sunset review of materials and to discuss other organic issues. The spring meeting typically features detailed discussion of materials up for sunset review, followed by votes on each of the materials during the fall meeting.
Materials up for review which the community may want to comment on include
Crops
- Plastic mulch and covers
- Elemental sulfur
- Liquid fish products
Livestock
- Vaccines
Handling
- Flavors
NOSB members will also discuss how organic can gain official recognition as climate-smart farming. They are considering how a universal Organic System Plan might be used as a “multi-purpose reporting form” to apply for numerous federal programs. (See agenda item Proposal: Organic Is Climate-Smart Agriculture.)
In addition, NOSB is requesting input from the organic farming community on organic crop insurance (see agenda item Discussion Document: Climate Induced Farming Risk and Crop Insurance).
The full list of topics and sunset materials being reviewed is in the meeting packet.
The NOSB is the federal advisory board to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on organic materials, standards, policies, and practices. The NOSB is composed primarily of certified organic farmers and ranchers and also includes seats for environmental/resource conservationists, consumer/public interest representatives, organic handlers/ processors, a retailer, a scientist (toxicology, ecology or biochemistry), and a USDA-accredited certifying agent.