USDA National Organic Program

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting

April 27, 2015

Miles V. McEvoy, Deputy Administrator

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

National Organic Program
Overview

• Strategic Plan

• National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)

• USDA Organic Initiatives

• Standards Update

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AMS - NOP Strategic Plan

Agricultural Marketing Service – National 

Organic Program Strategic Plan 2015-2018

Protecting Organic Integrity

– Reviewing the Past

– Planning for the Future

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Accomplishments – 2009-2014

• Age of enforcement

• Access to pasture rule

• Residue testing rule

• NOP Handbook

• Ensured audit were conducted

• Increased audit consistency / regularity

• Responded to 4 Office of Inspector General audits

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Accomplishments – 2009-2014

• International equivalency arrangements

• Improvements to the Appeals process

• Organic literacy initiative

• USDA Organic Insider

• List of certified organic operations

• Sound and Sensible Certification

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Core Values

• Independence and Objectivity

• Customer Service

• Accountability

• Honesty and Integrity

• Diversity

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Clear 

Standards

Market Access –

Local, Regional, 

International

Protect 

Organic 

Integrity

Information 

Technology

Strategic Goals

Organizational 

Development

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Origin of Livestock Proposed Rule

• April 27, 2015 – On display

• April 28, 2015 – Published in Federal Register

• 90 day comment period

• AMS welcomes your comments

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NOSB Recommendations

• 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006

• More narrow allowance for transitioning as 

organic dairy industry grew

• Last recommendation – existing dairies could 

only use organic dairy animals and could not 

use any transitioned dairy animals

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Purpose of Proposed Rule

• Support OFPA objectives of consistent standard

• Incorporate 

– NOSB recommendations

– Other stakeholder input

• Industry Origin of Livestock task force

• NOP outreach 

• OIG audit response - End the inconsistent 

interpretation of current rules

• Increase organic integrity

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Origin of Livestock

• Narrow one-time transition

• Current regulations use “herd” as regulatory unit; 

undefined and inconsistently applied

• Proposal uses “producer” as regulatory unit 

• Proposed narrow 1-time allowance in a single, 

continuous 12 month period; all animals must end 

transition at same time

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Special Projects – Regulations

• Animal welfare standards

• Origin of Livestock

• Organic Aquaculture

• Organic Pet Food standards

• Organic Apiculture

• Organic Mushrooms

• Enhancing enforcement provisions

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Special Projects - Policy

• Grower Groups 

• Pesticide Drift

• Clarifying materials allowed in organic crop, 

livestock and handling

• Inspector Qualifications

• Private Labels

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Special Projects – Market Development

• Implement sound and sensible certification 

through public-private partnerships

• Identify target countries for potential 

equivalency arrangements

• Support Latin American internal market 

development

• Implement Secretary’s guidance on organic 

agriculture

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Special Projects – Infrastructure

• Modernize Organic Integrity Database

• Organic training and technical assistance

• NOP quality system

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Organic Community

We envision one organic community, embracing 

all sizes of organizations and institutions – all 

committed to and working towards a common 

vision of organic agriculture.

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Performance Measures

• Compliance with accreditation requirements

• Consumer trust 

• Number of U.S. certified organic operations

• Sound and Sensible outreach

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NOP Organization and Activities

National Organic Program

Office of Deputy Administrator

Standards Division

Accreditation

& International 

Activities Division

Compliance &

Enforcement Division

National Organic 

Standards Board

• Rules, Guidance, 

Instructions,

• National List

• Accreditation process

• Technical outreach

• International 

agreements

• Complaints

• Investigations

• Initiate enforcement 

actions 

• Market surveillance

• Communication

• Administration

• Cost Share Program

• National List 

recommendations

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National Organic

Standards Board
National Organic Standards Board 

The National Organic Standards Board or NOSB 

is a Federal Advisory Committee which 

assists and advises USDA. It has 

– a charter with established mission and duties

– a Designated Federal Official (DFO) 

– Subcommittees and Chair

– Opportunity for public participation

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NOSB Budget 

• $190,000 budget cap for direct NOSB support

– Salary and Benefits for Advisory Board Specialist

– Travel for Board Members 

– NOSB meeting facilities and A/V

• Additional NOSB related support

– NOP technical staff support – Dr. Lisa Brines, 

National List Manager; Emily Brown Rosen, 

Standards staff

– Technical Reports - $520,000 in FY14

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NOSB Call for Nominations

• Five open positions

• Written nominations must include cover letter, 

resume, and a required form (available on 

USDA website)

• Applications must be postmarked on or before 

May 15, 2015

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Recommendations on Hydroponics

• In 1995 the NOSB recommended that “Hydroponic 

production in soilless media to be labeled 

organically produced shall be allowed if all 

provisions of the OFPA have been met.”

• In NOSB 2010 greenhouse recommendation, the 

NOSB recommended that USDA shouldn’t allow 

organic crops to be produced using hydroponic 

methods.

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Organic Hydroponics

• Some farms are currently producing organic crops 

through hydroponic methods.

• There are some USDA-accredited certifiers that certify 

organic hydroponic operations, using the USDA organic 

regulation crop standards. 

• This certification is allowed, as long as the certifier can 

demonstrate its process for certifying in a way that is 

compliant. 

• Certifiers known to certify hydroponic operations in the 

U.S. include CCOF, QAI, QCS, Midwest Organic Services 

Association, A Bee Organic, Oregon Tilth, and Bay State 

Certifiers. 

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NOSB Task Force

AMS is establishing a hydroponic-aquaponic task 

force to report on the compatibility of these 

systems with the USDA organic regulations and 

the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).

The task force will report to the NOSB on

• (i) current hydroponic and aquaponic

production methods used in organic 

production, and 

• (ii) whether these practices align with OFPA and 

the USDA organic regulations. 

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Hydroponics/Aquaponics Task Force

• Nominations open until May 7

• Task Force established summer 2015

• Report to NOSB in Spring 2016

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USDA Organic

Initiatives
USDA Organic Guidance

Secretary Vilsack’s May 2013 

departmental guidance on 

organic agriculture

• Training and outreach

• Supporting transition to 

organic

• Regulatory reciprocity 

(reducing paperwork)

• Research

• Data 

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Organic Literacy Initiative

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Conservation Activity Plans

USDA NRCS Conservation Activity Plans 

for Organic Producers

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 

created a conservation activity plan that mirrors an 

Organic System Plan

• Important tool for transitioning producers: helps with 

paperwork and conservation practices

• First step for EQIP: financial assistance up to $20,000 

per year

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Cost Share Resources

Cost Share Webpage: http://bit.ly/OrganicCostShareInfo

Cost Share Mailbox: CostShare@ams.usda.gov

Outreach Materials on NOP Website (mailer, fact sheet) 

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Standards Update
Draft Guidance: Natural Resources & Biodiversity

Conservation

Purpose: 

– To address NOSB Biodiversity Recommendations

– To inform organic operators of specific 

production practices that demonstrate 

compliance with the general conservation 

requirement at Section 205.200

– To clarify the role of the certifier and the 

inspector in verifying operator compliance

– To reduce paperwork burdens for operators 

participating in NRCS and NOP programs 

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Conservation Practices

NRCS assistance may be available

• Adding organic matter to the soil to increase 

soil organism diversity

• Conserving woodland, wetlands

• Vegetative covers

• Water conservation techniques

• Plant diversity

• Conserving wildlife corridors

• Controlling invasive species

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Key Elements 

Roles

– Operator must select, record and carry out 

production practices that “maintain or 

improve the natural resources...”

– Certifier must review the Organic System Plan 

for the production practices and ensure the 

inspector is qualified to assess this regulatory 

element

– Inspector must observe and evaluate the 

practices already underway, those that are 

planned, and note any exceptions

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Other National List Issues

205.602 – Sodium Nitrate

• AMS has not renewed sodium nitrate on 205.602; 

Therefore, its listing is invalid and no longer 

enforceable

• Use of sodium nitrate must meet soil fertility and 

crop nutrient standard; natural resource standard

• September 11, 2012 notice provides information

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Biodegradable Mulch

Biodegradable bio-based mulch film allowed 

• Compostable

• Biodegradable

• Bio-based – polymer feed stocks consist of biological 

products or renewable agricultural or forestry products

Based on NOSB recommendation

NOP Policy 15-1 – Certifiers must verify that all polymer feed 

stocks are bio-based in order to allow a biodegradable biobased mulch film

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Nanotechnology Policy

• NOP Policy Memo 15-2 states that engineered 

nanomaterials are prohibited in organic production and 

handling

• Based on October 2010 NOSB Recommendation on 

Engineered Nanomaterials 

• NOSB considered nanomaterials to be synthetic and 

prohibited substances under the organic regulations

• Many engineered nanomaterials would not be considered 

synthetic under the Organic Foods Production Act

• The policy memo clarifies that engineered nanomaterials 

are prohibited and the NOSB has authority over these 

substances

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Electrolyzed Water

• On June 9, 2014, NOP issued a policy memo on electrolyzed 

water (PM 14-3) which addressed a difference in interpretation 

among certifiers on the allowance of this substance.

• Electrolyzed water contains the active ingredient hypochlorous

acid (HOCl) and is generated from the electrolysis of salt 

(sodium chloride) in water. Hypochlorous acid and electrolyzed 

water are not on NOP’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited 

Substances.

• Some stakeholders have asked NOP to rescind the policy 

memo asserting that hypochlorous acid is equivalent to other 

chlorine materials on the National List and should be allowed 

for use.

• NOP encourages parties interested in further consideration of 

electrolyzed water to submit a petition according to the 

current National List petition guidelines published in the 

Federal Register.

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Why organic?
Thank You

Organic Integrity from

Farm to Table, 

Consumers Trust the

Organic Label

www.ams.usda.gov/nop