THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION DOES NOT REPRESENT OFFICIAL USDA POLICY

NOSB Accreditation Committee 

Peer Review Panel Recommendation 

Draft 3 – Adopted by the NOSB, June 7, 2001

The Accreditation Committee has been charged with:

1. proposing a revised definition of "peer review panel" to bring the definition in line with the 

Rule’s regulatory text; 

2. drafting an appointment plan with a target of appointment of the PRP by December 31, 

2001; and 

3. drafting terms of reference for operation of the PRP. 

1. Peer Review Panel definition. The Federal Rule currently contains the following definition:

"Peer review panel. A panel of individuals who have expertise in organic production and handling 

methods and certification procedures and who are appointed by the Administrator to assist in 

evaluating applicants for accreditation as certifying agents."

In order to make the definition consistent with the regulatory text, the Accreditation Committee 

recommends replacing the current definition with the following:

"Peer review panel. A panel of individuals who have expertise in organic production and handling 

methods and certification procedures and who are appointed by the Administrator to assist in 

evaluating the accreditation procedures and decisions of the National Organic Program." 

2. Peer Review Panel appointment plan. 

A. The Peer Review Panel (PRP) shall be a standing committee of the National Organic 

Standards Board (NOSB), pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 

App. 2 et seq.).

B. The PRP shall be comprised of 3 members and one alternate. At least one member of the 

PRP shall be a current NOSB member.

C. PRP members shall be recommended by the NOSB.

D. Current NOSB members and members of the public are eligible to serve on the PRP. 

E. PRP members must have expertise in organic production and handling methods and 

certification procedures. 

F. Each member must be recommended for appointment to the PRP by a majority vote of the 

NOSB. In the event of a plurality, the lowest vote getter must withdraw, and a new ballot is cast.

G. The Administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service shall appoint members of the 

PRP, based on the recommendations of the NOSB. 

H. Members of the Peer Review Panel may serve up to two 3-year terms. 

I. In order to establish an appointment rotation cycle, members of the first Peer Review Panel 

shall be appointed to 1-, 2-, and 3-year terms, with the alternate member appointed to a 3-year 

term.
3. Peer Review Panel terms of reference.

The Federal Rule contains the following regulatory text establishing the duties of the Peer Review 

Panel: 

"§ 205.509 Peer review panel.

The Administrator shall establish a peer review panel pursuant to the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2 et seq.). The peer review panel shall be composed of not 

less than 3 members who shall annually evaluate the National Organic Program's adherence to 

the accreditation procedures in subpart F of these regulations and ISO/IEC Guide 61, General 

requirements for assessment and accreditation of certification/registration bodies, and the 

National Organic Program's accreditation decisions. This shall be accomplished through the 

review of accreditation procedures, document review and site evaluation reports, and 

accreditation decision documents or documentation. The peer review panel shall report its 

finding, in writing, to the National Organic Program's Program Manager."

The Accreditation Committee recommends that the Peer Review Panel operate according to the 

following terms of reference:

A. The Peer Review Panel shall annually evaluate the National Organic Program's 

adherence to the accreditation procedures in subpart F of the Federal Rule. 

B. The PRP shall annually evaluate the National Organic Program's adherence to ISO/IEC 

Guide 61, General Requirements for Assessment and Accreditation of 

Certification/Registration Bodies. 

C. The PRP shall annually evaluate the National Organic Program's accreditation decisions 

for compliance with the Act, the Federal Rule, and ISO/IEC Guide 61. 

D. The PRP shall annually review the NOP’s accreditation procedures, document reviews, 

and site evaluation reports. 

E. The PRP shall annually review the NOP’s accreditation decision documents and/or 

documentation. 

F. The PRP shall report its findings, in writing, to the National Organic Standards Board and 

to the National Organic Program's Program Manager. 

G. The report shall be constructed as a consensus document of the PRP, but it may contain 

minority findings or positions. 

H. The proceedings of the PRP shall be confidential, but the findings shall be contained in a 

publicly available document. 

I. PRP members shall recuse themselves from review of NOP accreditation decisions 

concerning certifying agents with whom they or members of their immediate families have 

conflicts of interest. 

J. Upon appointment, PRP members shall receive auditor training in ISO/IEC Guide 61 and 

ISO/IEC Guide 10011. 

K. The PRP shall travel to the USDA offices at least annually to conduct reviews of the 

NOP’s accreditation program. PRP members may also accompany representatives of the 

NOP during site evaluations of certifying agents. 

L. The PRP will be provided sufficient staff support and resources by the NOP to carry out 

the duties described in A–K above.