National Organic Standards Board Meeting Update

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) held its biannual public meeting in Jacksonville, FL, 

October 31 - November 2, 2017. Over the course of three days, the NOSB, under the leadership of NOSB 

Chair Mr. Tom Chapman, evaluated 12 proposals and 3 discussion documents, heard five Subcommittee 

updates, and reviewed 35 substance listings under the Sunset 2019 process. The NOSB received 2,301 

written public comments and heard oral comments from 142 members of the public on a wide range of 

issues. Fifty-two (52) of those commenters presented testimony during two webinars held prior to the 

meeting, and 90 commenters provided oral comments at the in-person meeting. There were 

approximately 150 members of the public in attendance at the meeting.

The meeting began with introductions by each Board member and acceptance of the Spring 2017 

meeting minutes. The Board then heard introductory remarks from Jennifer Tucker, Associate Deputy 

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

Chapman, NOSB Chair, provided an update on the NOSB, and 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. The NOP hosted a panel of experts on imports to help inform 

future work by the NOSB. During the course of the meeting, the NOSB considered a variety of topics,

including the continued use of a number of materials 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 informational purposes, and 

the Board does not take action on those items at this time. The final recommendations from the Fall 

2017 meeting will be posted at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/2017-national-organic-standardsboard-nosb-meeting

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. NOSB recommendations are not part of the USDA organic 

regulations.

Petitioned Substances. The NOSB reviewed four 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 non-synthetic 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 NOP.
Petitions

Use Area Substance National List 

Section (7 CFR 

Part 205)

NOSB Recommendation

Livestock Sulfur 205.603 Voted to add this material to the National 

List

Livestock Hypochlorous acid 205.603 Not recommended for addition to the 

National List for medical treatment

Crops Fatty Alcohols 

(octanol/decanol mix)

205.601 Classified as synthetic. Not recommended 

for addition to the National List

Crops Anaerobic Digestate 205.203 Classified as non-synthetic. Vote to amend 

raw manure restrictions failed.

Other National List Recommendations

Use Area Substance National List 

Section

NOSB Recommendation

Handling Potassium acid 

tartrate

205.605(b) and 

205.606

Voted to reclassify potassium acid tartrate

as an agricultural substance and move its 

listing from §205.605(b) to §205.606

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 reviewed 35 listings and recommended four be removed from the 

National List. The four substances recommended for removal were: vitamin B1 for crop production, 

oxytocin and procaine for livestock production, and non-organic konjac flour for handling.

Use Area Substance National 

List Section

NOSB Recommendation

Crops Chlorine materials (calcium 

hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, 

sodium hypochlorite)

205.601(a) The motion to remove this substance

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Herbicides, soap-based 205.601(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.
Crops Biodegradable biobased mulch 

film

205.601(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Boric acid 205.601(e) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Sticky traps/barriers 205.601(e) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Copper sulfate 205.601(i) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Coppers, fixed 205.601(i) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Humic acids 205.601(j) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Micronutrients (soluble boron 

products)

205.601(j) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Micronutrients (sulfates, 

carbonates, oxides, or silicates of 

zinc, copper, iron, manganese, 

molybdenum, selenium, and 

cobalt)

205.601(j) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Vitamin B1 205.601(j) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List passed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Vitamin C, Vitamin E 205.601(j) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Crops Lead salts 205.602(d) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.
Crops Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate) 205.602(i) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Chlorine materials (calcium 

hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, 

sodium hypochlorite)

205.603(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Chlorhexidine 205.603(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Glucose 205.603(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset

review.

Livestock Oxytocin 205.603(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List passed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Tolazoline 205.603(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Copper sulfate 205.603(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Lidocaine 205.603(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Livestock Procaine 205.603(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List passed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Attapulgite 205.605(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Bentonite 205.605(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Diatomaceous earth 205.605(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 
review.

Handling Nitrogen 205.605(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Sodium carbonate 205.605(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Acidified sodium chlorite 205.605(a) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Carbon dioxide 205.605(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Chlorine materials (calcium 

hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, 

sodium hypochlorite)

205.605(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Magnesium chloride 205.605(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Potassium acid tartrate 205.605(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Sodium phosphates 205.605(b) The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Casings 205.606 The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.

Handling Konjac flour 205.606 The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List passed.

The NOSB completed its sunset

review.

Handling Pectin (non-amidated forms only) 205.606 The motion to remove this substance 

from the National List failed.

The NOSB completed its sunset 

review.
Non-National List Recommendations, Discussion Documents, Updates and Reports

The Compliance, Accreditation and Certification Subcommittee (CACS) presented two proposals: 

eliminating the incentive to convert native ecosystems to organic crop production; and excluded 

operations in the supply chain (uncertified handlers). The CACS also had a preliminary conversation 

regarding imports. The proposal to eliminate the incentive to convert native ecosystems to organic crop 

production was sent back to Subcommittee for additional work.

The Handling Subcommittee considered a discussion document on marine materials, and provided 

three verbal updates: two on tocopherols and one on ancillary substances in cellulose. The Handling 

Subcommittee agreed to suspend further work on tocopherols and ancillary substances at this time. 

The Crops Subcommittee considered one discussion document on field and greenhouse container 

growing, and brought forth two proposals: One to strengthen the organic seed guidance (NOP 5029), 

and one on hydroponics, aeroponics, and container growing. The proposal to strengthen the organic 

seed guidance (NOP 5029) was referred back to Subcommittee for additional work. The proposal to 

prohibit hydroponics from organic certification did not pass, and the proposal to prohibit aeroponics did

pass NOSB. The Subcommittee also provided a verbal update about an annotation change to the 

newspaper listing and indicated that they will suspend further work on this topic.

The Livestock Subcommittee discussed a proposal on clarifying “emergency treatment” for use of 

synthetic parasiticides in organic livestock production, which was referred back to Subcommittee for 

additional work.

The Materials Subcommittee presented a discussion document on non-GMO organic seed integrity, and 

brought forth two proposals on 2017 NOSB Research Priorities and excluded methods terminology.

Other Business

The NOSB held elections for the three NOSB officer positions. Tom Chapman was re-elected Chair, 

Harriet Behar was elected Vice Chair, and Scott Rice was elected Secretary. 

Francis Thicke was recognized with a certificate of appreciation for serving a five-year term on the 

NOSB. His term ends in January 2018. Dr. Thicke provided remarks on his time as a member of the 

NOSB.

Lisa Brines, National List Manager, was awarded the NOP Employee of the Quarter award.