National Organic Standards Board Meeting Update

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) held its biannual public meeting in Denver, Colorado, April 

19-21, 2017. Over the course of three days, the NOSB, under the leadership of NOSB Chair Mr. Tom 

Chapman, evaluated 8 proposals, 4 discussion documents, heard two Subcommittee updates, and began 

its review of 35 listings under the Sunset 2019 process. The NOSB received 2,044 written public 

comments and heard oral comments from 148 members of the public on a wide range of issues. Thirtyfive (35) of those commenters presented testimony during a webinar held prior to the meeting, and 113 

gave oral comments at the in-person meeting. 

The meeting began with introductions by each Board member and acceptance of the Fall 2016 meeting 

minutes. The Board then heard introductory remarks from Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of the 

National Organic Program (NOP), who presented an update on the National Organic Program. Tom 

Chapman, NOSB Chair, provided an update on the NOSB. Dr. Lisa Brines, NOP National List Manager, 

provided an update about materials under sunset review, and petitions for changes to the National List 

of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. During the course of the meeting, the NOSB considered a variety 

of topics including the continued use of a number of material as part of the Sunset 2019 review process,

and the certification of hydroponic systems as organic. A summary of the NOSB’s recommendations and 

actions is provided below. Discussion documents and updates are presented for information purposes, 

and the Board does not take action at this time. The final recommendations from the April 2017 meeting 

will be posted at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/nosb-spring-2017-meeting-denver-co. 

Note: The NOSB is an advisory body to the Secretary of Agriculture. NOSB recommendations are not 

NOP policy unless the NOP issues final rules, final guidance, final instructions, or a policy memorandum 

that adopts the NOSB recommendations. They are not part of the USDA organic regulations unless such 

action is taken.

Petitioned Substances. The NOSB reviewed two petitions to amend the National List of Allowed and 

Prohibited Substances (National List). This section of the USDA organic regulations identifies the

synthetic substances that may be used and the nonsynthetic substances that are prohibited in organic 

crop and livestock production. For organic processed products, the allowed non-organic ingredients and 

processing aids are also included on the National List. If an NOSB proposal receives a decisive vote (2/3 

majority) by Board members in favor of the proposed motion, it becomes a recommendation to the 

USDA, and is provided to the Secretary through the AMS National Organic Program.

Petitions

Use Area Substance National List 

Section

NOSB Recommendation

Handling L-methionine -

petitioned 

§205.605(b) Classified as synthetic; recommended for 

the National List, with annotation

Handling Short DNA tracers -

petitioned

§205.605(b) Classified as synthetic; not recommended 

for the National List
Other National List Recommendations

Use Area Substance National List 

Section

NOSB Recommendation

Crops Marine algae listings Multiple 

sections

Referred back to Subcommittee

Handling Tocopherols

annotation change

205.605(b) Referred back to Subcommittee

Handling Marine algae listings Multiple 

sections

Referred back to Subcommittee

Handling Cellulose - ancillary 

substances permitted

205.605(b) Referred back to Subcommittee

Sunset 2019 Review. The NOSB must review every substance on the National List of Allowed and 

Prohibited Substances every five years to determine whether it continues to meet all required criteria

under the Organic Foods Production Act and the USDA organic regulations. This review is called “sunset 

review.” At this meeting, the NOSB began its review of 35 listings as part of the Sunset 2019 review.

Proposals to remove any of these substances will be considered and voted on at the Fall 2017 NOSB 

meeting.

Use Area Substance National List Section

Crops Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine 

dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite)

205.601(a)

Crops Herbicides, soap-based 205.601(b)

Crops Biodegradable biobased mulch film 205.601(b)

Crops Boric acid 205.601(e)

Crops Sticky traps/barriers 205.601(e)

Crops Copper sulfate 205.601(i)

Crops Coppers, fixed 205.601(i)

Crops Humic acids 205.601(j)

Crops Micronutrients (Soluble boron products) 205.601(j)
Crops Micronutrients (Sulfates, carbonates, oxides, or 

silicates of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, 

molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt)

205.601(j)

Crops Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, Vitamin E 205.601(j)

Crops Lead salts 205.602(d)

Crops Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate) 205.602(i)

Livestock Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine 

dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite)

205.603(a)

Livestock Chlorhexidine 205.603(a)

Livestock Glucose 205.603(a)

Livestock Oxytocin 205.603(a)

Livestock Tolazoline 205.603(a)

Livestock Copper sulfate 205.603(b)

Livestock Lidocaine 205.603(b)

Livestock Procaine 205.603(b)

Handling Attapulgite 205.605(a) 

Handling Bentonite 205.605(a) 

Handling Diatomaceous earth 205.605(a) 

Handling Nitrogen 205.605(a) 

Handling Sodium carbonate 205.605(a) 

Handling Acidified sodium chlorite 205.605(a) 

Handling Carbon dioxide 205.605(b) 

Handling Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine 

dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite)

205.605(b) 

Handling Magnesium chloride 205.605(b) 

Handling Potassium acid tartrate 205.605(b)
Handling Sodium phosphates 205.605(b)

Handling Casings 205.606

Handling Konjac flour 205.606

Handling Pectin (non-amidated forms only) 205.606

Discussion Documents, Updates and Reports

The Compliance, Accreditation and Certification Subcommittee presented a discussion document on 

eliminating the incentive to convert native ecosystems into organic crop production. Work will continue 

on this project.

The Handling Subcommittee considered a discussion document on Bisphenol A (BPA) in packaging 

materials. The Handling Subcommittee expects to develop a proposal on this topic for the Fall 2017 

meeting, pending completion of a technical evaluation report on BPA.

The Crops Subcommittee considered a discussion document on Aeroponics/Hydroponics/Aquaponics, 

and will develop a proposal on this topic for the Fall 2017 meeting. The Subcommittee also presented a 

proposal to strengthen the organic seed guidance (NOP 5029), which was sent back for further work. 

The Livestock Subcommittee discussed a document on clarifying “emergency” for use of synthetic 

parasiticides in organic livestock production. The Subcommittee will continue to develop this work and 

will be soliciting additional public comment.

Other Business

This was the first meeting for the five new NOSB members who began their terms in January 2017: Asa 

Bradman, Sue Baird, Steve Ela, Joelle Mosso, and Dave Mortensen