Revised: 4/10/2019 – subject to change

National Organic Standards Board Meeting Agenda 

Renaissance Seattle Hotel | 515 Madison Street | Seattle, WA, 98104 | Courtyard Ballroom B Level

April 24 – 26, 2019

Schedule at a Glance:

Apr 16 & 18 Wednesday

Apr 24

Thursday 

Apr 25

Friday

Apr 26

MORNING

- Call to Order/Welcome/ 

 Intros/Secretary’s report

- NOSB report

- USDA/AMS/NOP update

- NASS 2019 Organic Survey

- Celery powder panel

- Public comments 

 continued 

- Handling 

 Subcommittee

- Biodegradable mulch film: 

 Update on research

AFTERNOON

- Public 

comment 

webinar(s)

1 - 4pm ET

- Methionine update

- Public comments 

- NOSB group photo

- Materials 

 Subcommittee

- CACS

- Livestock 

 Subcommittee

 

- Crops Subcommittee 

- Deferred proposals/ 

 Final votes

- Work agendas/ 

 Materials’ update

- Other business/Closing 

 remarks

Face-to-Face Meeting Format

• The Designated Federal Officer calls the meeting to order and adjourns the meeting. The NOSB Chair presides over 

the meeting. 

• The USDA and National Organic Program (NOP) provide the NOSB with updates, and an overview of petitioned 

substances, sunset materials, and technical reports. 

• The Board hears public comments. 

• NOSB members present Subcommittee proposals, reports and discussion documents, and discuss public comment, 

prior to voting on proposals. Final votes may be deferred to the last day of the meeting if more deliberation is 

needed. NOTE: Agenda items may be withdrawn, or votes postponed at the discretion of the Board.

• There will be two 15-minute breaks (mid-morning & mid-afternoon) and a 90-minute lunch break mid-day. Recess 

and adjournment times may vary based on completion of business. 

Public Comments (Written and Oral) 

• All persons are encouraged to provide written comments via Regulations.gov.

• All persons wishing to provide oral comments are asked to sign up in advance. Instructions are available at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-seattle-wa. There are two (2) 

opportunities to provide oral comments to the Board: During webinar(s) on April 16 and 18, 2019, and during the

in-person meeting. Walk-in comment slots may become available on a first come-first served basis at the meeting, 

if the schedule allows.

• Each person may sign up for only one speaking slot. Commenters will be allowed a 3-minute time slot during either

the webinar or at the face-to-face meeting. Each commenter must state his/her name and affiliation for the record 

at the beginning of their comment.
 

 Revised: 4/10/2019 – subject to change TUE/THU APR

1

6 & 

1

8

1:00 - 4:00 

PM ET

Public comment webinar(s)

Please see the NOSB meeting webpage for login information and instructions 

WEDNESDAY APRIL 24, 201

9

8:30 AM Call to Order, Agenda Overview, Introductions

 Dr. Jennifer Tucker, NOP Deputy Administrator and NOSB members

Secretary’s report (acceptance of Fall 2018 meeting summary as official record)

 Scott Rice, Secretary

Welcome

 Steve Fuller, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)

9:00 AM NOSB report

 Harriet Behar, NOSB Chairperson

9:15 AM USDA and Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program Update

 Dr. Jennifer Tucker, NOP Deputy Administrator

10:00 AM NASS 2019 Organic Survey

 Adam Cline, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

10:30 AM BREAK

10:45 AM Celery Powder Panel

 Dr. Andrew L. Milkowski (University of Wisconsin - Madison)

 Mr. Logan Peterman, (Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative)

 Dr. Erin Silva (University of Wisconsin - Madison)

 Ms. Jennifer Wasieleski (Kerry Foods)

12:15 PM LUNCH

1:45 PM Methionine update

 Dr. Heather Burley (McDaniel College)

 Dr. Kristjian Bregendahl (Devenish Nutrition)

2:05 PM –

5:45 PM

Public comments 

~3:45 PM BREAK

5:45 PM RECESS
 

 Revised: 4/10/2019 – subject to change THURSDAY APRIL 25, 201

9

8:30 AM –

2:30 PM 

Public comments continued

~10:15 AM BREAK

~12:15 PM - 1:45 PM LUNCH

2:30 PM Materials Subcommittee (MS)

Emily Oakley, Chairperson

Topics:

 Proposal: Excluded methods determinations April 2019

 Discussion document: Excluded methods: induced mutagenesis and embryo transfer

 Discussion document: Marine materials in organic crop production

 Discussion document: Genetic integrity transparency of seed grown on organic land

 Discussion document: Assessing cleaning and sanitation materials used in 

 organic crop, livestock and handling 

 

Subcommittee discusses proposals and documents as needed

Board votes if ready

3:30 PM Compliance, Accreditation & Certification Subcommittee (CACS) 

Sue Baird, Chairperson

Topics:

 Discussion document: Oversight improvements to deter fraud - Summary

Subcommittee discusses proposals and documents as needed

3:45 PM BREAK

4:00 PM Livestock Subcommittee (LS)

Scott Rice, Chairperson

Topics:

 Proposal: Oxalic acid - petitioned

 Discussion document: Use of excluded method vaccines in organic livestock production

 2021 Sunset substances review:

 Atropine 

 Hydrogen peroxide 

 Iodine (§205.603a and §205.603b) 

 Magnesium sulfate

 (Parasiticide) Fenbendazole 

 (Parasiticide) Moxidectin 

 Peroxyacetic/Peracetic acid

 Xylazine

 DL - Methionine

 Trace minerals

 Vitamins

 

Subcommittee discusses documents as needed

Board votes if ready

5:30 PM RECESS
 

 Revised: 4/10/2019 – subject to change FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2019 MORNING

8:30 AM –

11:45 AM

15 min break 

mid-way

Handling Subcommittee (HS)

Dr. Asa Bradman, Chairperson

Topics:

 Proposal: Silver dihydrogen citrate - petitioned

 Proposal: Pullulan - petitioned

 Proposal: Collagen gel (casing) - petitioned

2021 Sunset substances review:

 Acids, Citric

Acids, Lactic

Calcium chloride

Dairy cultures

Enzymes

L-Malic acid

Magnesium sulfate

Microorganisms

Perlite

Potassium iodide

Yeast

Acid, Alginic

Activated charcoal

Ascorbic acid

Calcium citrate

Ferrous sulfate

Hydrogen peroxide

Nutrient vitamins and minerals

Peracetic acid 

Potassium citrate

Potassium phosphate

Sodium acid pyrophosphate

Sodium citrate

Tocopherols

Celery powder

Fish oil

Gelatin

Orange pulp, dried

Seaweed, Pacific kombu

Seaweed, Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) 

Subcommittee discusses proposals and documents as needed

Board votes if ready 

11:45 AM Biodegradable mulch film - Update on research

 Dr. Markus Flury, Washington State University

 Dr. Ramani Narayan, Michigan State University

12:05 PM LUNCH
 

 Revised: 4/10/2019 – subject to change FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2019 AFTERNOON

1:30 PM - 

4:15 PM

15m break 

midway

Crops Subcommittee (CS)

Steve Ela, Chairperson

Topics: 

Proposal: Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) - petitioned

Proposal: Ammonium citrate - petitioned

Proposal: Ammonium glycinate - petitioned 

Proposal: Calcium acetate - petitioned

Proposal: Strengthening the organic seed guidance April 2019

Discussion document: Paper (Plant pots and other crop production aids) - petitioned

2021 Sunset substances review:

Hydrogen peroxide (§205.601a and §205.601i)

Soaps, ammonium

Oils, horticultural (Narrow range oils) (§205.601e and §205.601i)

Pheromones

Ferric phosphate

Potassium bicarbonate

Magnesium sulfate

Hydrogen chloride

Ash from manure burning

Sodium fluoaluminate

Subcommittee discusses proposals and documents as needed

Board votes if ready

4:15 PM Deferred proposals/Final votes

4:30 PM NOSB work agenda/Materials update

4:45 PM Other business and closing remarks

5:00 PM ADJOURN