Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for addition to or removal from the 

National List. Proposals must be voted on by the NOSB, to become recommendations to the USDA. They do not represent official National

Organic Program (NOP) policy/regulations or NOSB recommendations. Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, regulations, 

and status of substances used in organic production and handling.

Policy Development Subcommittee (PDS) Notes

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 3:00 pm ET

Present: Nate Lewis (NL), Chair; Amy Bruch (AB), Vice Chair; Allison Johnson (AJ); Jerry D’Amore (JD); Kyla Smith 

(KS) - observer

Absent: Carolyn Dimitri (CD)

Staff: Michelle Arsenault (MA)

Agenda

• Review January 9, 2024 notes

• PPM (All) - discuss/vote 

• Additional Items

• Adjourn

Discussion

• January 9, 2024 notes were accepted as written.

• Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM) updates (All). The group reviewed the marked-up document, 

agreed on the proposed changes, and moved to a vote. 

Motion to accept the proposal on PPM updates 

Motion by: NL

Seconded by: ADB

Yes: 5 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0 Absent: 1

• Additional Items. None

• The meeting was adjourned

Previous PDS Notes

Future call schedule (2nd Tuesday 3:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT, except where noted)

January 9, 2024

February 13, 2024

PPM - discuss/vote on updates

March 12, 2024

April 9, 2024

May 14, 2024

June 11, 2024

July 9, 2024

August 13, 2024

September 10, 2024

October 8, 2024

November 12, 2024

December 10, 2024

Work Agenda 

*Highlight indicates discussion. *Highlight indicates action needed. *Highlight indicates review completion

and/or vote.
Milestones

Project Contact Doc Type Notes* Scheduled

/ status

Target 

Meeting

Policy & Procedure Manual 

(PPM) Update: Misc. updates

1. Replace policy memo 11- 4 for material review, 

with NOP 5033 + and 

NOP 5034 (and 5034-X 

docs).

2. Malign instead of impugn

3. Resignation policy

4. Board mbr attendance

NL/ADB Proposal Revisions/Updates as 

needed 

12. 12.23

1.9.24

2.13.24

Spr 

2024

Update to member guide

1. Add exit interviews

2. Add training 

graphic/handout

MA/TBD TBD Update as needed. Not 

posted on website

1.9.24 NA

Spring 2024 Milestones Target dates (tentative) Weeks PTM 

(prior to meeting)

NOP - Publish FRN, Open public comment ~Nov 17, 2023 16 -20

NOP - Draft Spring 2024 NOSB meeting tentative agenda Feb 9, 2024 ~ 10

NOSB - Spring 2024 proposals due to NOP Feb 15, 2024 ~ 9 

NOP - Post proposals Mar 5, 2024 7.5

Public comment closes Apr 3, 2024 3.5

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 5, 2024 3

Public comment webinars Apr 23 & 25, 2024 1 

Spring 2024 NOSB meeting - Milwaukee, WI Apr 29 - May 1, 2024 0

Final recommendations due May 29, 2024 30 days post 

meeting
Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for addition to or removal from the 

National List. Proposals must be voted on by the NOSB, to become recommendations to the USDA. They do not represent official National

Organic Program (NOP) policy/regulations or NOSB recommendations. Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, regulations, 

and status of substances used in organic production and handling.

Policy Development Subcommittee (PDS) Notes

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 3:00 pm ET

Present: Nate Lewis (NL), Chair; Amy Bruch (AB), Vice Chair; Carolyn Dimitri (CD); Allison Johnson (AJ); Jerry

D’Amore (JD); Kyla Smith (KS) - observer

Absent: None

Staff: Michelle Arsenault (MA)

Agenda

• Review November 14, 2023 notes

• PPM updates (All)

• Exit interviews (JD/All)

• Additional Items

• Adjourn

Discussion

• December 12, 2023 notes were accepted with a minor modification.

• Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM) updates (All). The NOSB/PDS Vice Chair asked that members add 

comments or edits to the draft PPM document by January 26, so the PDS can review and vote on 

February 13.

• Exit interviews (JD/All). The lead summarized the project and shared background about the work to 

date. This project is considered a continuous improvement initiative for the NOSB. The PDS discussed

the exit interview process, specifically where to house the results, how to use the results to make 

improvements, how to keep them anonymous, how to balance transparency and confidentiality, who 

the audience is, etc. The PDS could distill and aggregate feedback for use in Board management (i.e., 

the admin team). Members discussed using the results in onboarding new members, and end-of-service

discussions. Cloud Vault could be used to store the data. The lead will incorporate the information into 

the draft PPM - specifically he will update the list of responsibilities of the “admin team”. 

• Additional Items. None.

• The meeting was adjourned

Previous PDS Notes

Future call schedule (2nd Tuesday 3:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT, except where noted)

December 12, 2023

PPM updates (All)

Exit interviews (JD/All)

Member guide updates (All)

January 9, 2024

February 13, 2024

PPM - discuss/vote on updates

March 12, 2024

April 9, 2024

May 14, 2024

June 11, 2024

July 9, 2024

August 13, 2024
September 10, 2024

October 8, 2024

November 12, 2024

December 10, 2024

Work Agenda 

*Highlight indicates discussion. *Highlight indicates action needed. *Highlight indicates review completion

and/or vote.

Milestones

Project Contact Doc Type Notes* Scheduled

/ status

Target 

Meeting

Policy & Procedure Manual 

(PPM) Update: Misc. updates

1. Replace policy memo 11- 4 for material review, 

with NOP 5033 + and 

NOP 5034 (and 5034-X 

docs).

2. Malign instead of impugn

3. Resignation policy

4. Board mbr attendance

NL/JD Proposal Revisions/Updates as 

needed 

12. 12.23

1.9.24

2.13.24

Spr 

2024

Update to member guide

1. Add exit interviews

2. Add training 

graphic/handout

MA/MJ TBD Update as needed. Not 

posted on website

1.9.24 NA

Spring 2024 Milestones Target dates (tentative) Weeks PTM 

(prior to meeting)

NOP - Publish FRN, Open public comment ~Nov 17, 2023 16 -20

NOP - Draft Spring 2024 NOSB meeting tentative agenda Feb 9, 2024 ~ 10

NOSB - Spring 2024 proposals due to NOP Feb 15, 2024 ~ 9 

NOP - Post proposals Mar 5, 2024 7.5

Public comment closes Apr 3, 2024 3.5

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 5, 2024 3

Public comment webinars Apr 23 & 25, 2024 1 

Spring 2024 NOSB meeting - Milwaukee, WI Apr 29 - May 1, 2024 0

Final recommendations due May 29, 2024 30 days post 

meeting