Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for 

addition to or removal from the National List. They do not represent official NOP policy or regulations. 

Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, regulations, and status of substances used in organic 

production and handling. 

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)

Policy Development Subcommittee ad hoc Meeting Notes 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 2pm ET 

Attendees: Jean Richardson, Chair (JR), Jay Feldman (JFe), John Foster (JFo)

Absent: Mac Stone (MS), Nick Maravell (NM)

Staff: Jenny Tucker (JT), Michelle Arsenault, Advisory Board Specialist (ABS) (MA)

Workplan

Project Contact Status Vote Target 

Meeting

Agenda

• Review Policy Development Subcommittee report

• Other business

• Adjourn

Discussion

• Review Policy Development Subcommittee report. The group discussed the public comment received 

in response to the NOSB processes that have been instituted by the NOP, such as sunset procedures 

and workplans. They also discussed how to share this information, which is in the form of a verbal 

report, with the other Board members prior to the meeting.

• Other Business. The workplan table above was edited to reflect the new designation of the PDS as an 

ad hoc Subcommittee. A member requested that the PDS keep a regular meeting on the calendar as a 

placeholder. The 4th Tuesday of each month will be retained. 

• The meeting was adjourned

ABS Note 05 14 14: The call schedule was changed post-meeting, and the PDS ad hoc will now meet as 

necessary on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Please see next set of notes for new call schedule.

Previous PDS Notes

Future Call Schedule

April 8, 2014 2:00 ET - cancelled

April 22, 2014 2:00 ET

May 27, 2014 2:00 ET

June 24, 2014 2:00 ET

July 22, 2014 2:00 ET

August 26, 2014 2:00 ET

September 23, 2014 2:00 ET

October 28, 2014 2:00 ET

November 25, 2014 2:00 ET

December 23, 2014 2:00 ET
Spring 2014 Milestones Target date

Subcommittee requests technical reports for Sunset 2016 substances Jan 15, 2014

NOSB Training meeting Feb 4 - 5, 2014

NOP – Complete tentative agenda Feb 7, 2014

Spring 2014 proposals due to NOP Feb 26, 2014

NOP - Post proposals, Publish FRN, Open public comment Mar 10, 2014

Subcommittees submit tentative workplans to NOP Mar 12, 2014

Discuss workplans on ES call Mar 14, 2014

NOP provides written comments on workplans to NOSB Mar 28, 2014

Public comment closes Apr 8, 2014

Workplans finalized on ES call Apr 11, 2014

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 14, 2014

Spring 2014 NOSB Meeting – San Antonio, TX ~Apr 28- May 2, 2014
Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for 

addition to or removal from the National List. They do not represent official NOP policy or regulations. 

Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, regulations, and status of substances used in organic 

production and handling. 

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)

Policy Development Subcommittee ad hoc Meeting Notes 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 2pm ET 

Attendees: Jean Richardson, Chair (JR), Jay Feldman (JFe), John Foster (JFo), Mac Stone (MS), Colehour 

Bondera (CBo) - sitting in

Absent: Nick Maravell (NM)

Staff: Miles McEvoy, Michelle Arsenault, Advisory Board Specialist (ABS) (MA)

Workplan

Project Contact Status Vote Target 

Meeting

Agenda

• Approve notes of April 22, 2014

• Other business

• Adjourn

Discussion

• Notes of April 22, 2014 approved with no changes 

• The PDS was reconvened to discuss revisions to the PPM. The group discussed the next steps

beginning with what version of the PPM to use as a basis for this future work. Both the PDS and the 

NOP worked on revisions beyond the version that is posted on the website (April 2012). The group 

noted that the version posted on the website does not include the most recent revision date. MA will 

correct this. The NOSB Chair asked that the NOP send guidance and background documents to clarify

who is responsible for what sections. The NOP will review the revisions that were drafted in June 2014

and forward them to the Subcommittee. The PDS will try to meet for an hour at the fall NOSB meeting 

to discuss the next steps. MA will schedule a PDS call for November

• The meeting was adjourned

Previous PDS Notes

Future Call Schedule

September 23, 2014 2:00 ET - cancelled

October 14, 2014 2:00 ET

November 25, 2014 2:00 ET

December 23, 2014 2:00 ET

Spring 2014 Milestones Target date

Subcommittee requests technical reports for Sunset 2016 substances Jan 15, 2014
NOSB Training meeting Feb 4 - 5, 2014

NOP – Complete tentative agenda Feb 7, 2014

Spring 2014 proposals due to NOP Feb 26, 2014

NOP - Post proposals, Publish FRN, Open public comment Mar 10, 2014

Subcommittees submit tentative workplans to NOP Mar 12, 2014

Discuss workplans on ES call Mar 14, 2014

NOP provides written comments on workplans to NOSB Mar 28, 2014

Public comment closes Apr 8, 2014

Workplans finalized on ES call Apr 11, 2014

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 14, 2014

Spring 2014 NOSB Meeting – San Antonio, TX ~Apr 28- May 2, 2014