Summary of the October 2001

NOSB Meeting in Washington, DC

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SUMMARY OF NOSB ACTIONS

OCTOBER 15-17, 2001

WASHINGTON, DC

The National Organic Standards Board meeting of October 15-17, 2001, was attended by

14 of its 15 members. The absent member was Marvin Hollen.

THE NOSB ACTED ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS AT ITS OCTOBER 15-17,

2001, MEETING:

June 6-7, 2001, Meeting Minutes - Approved as amended. Jim Riddle moved to

approve and Willie Lockeretz seconded the motion. (14 in favor, 0 opposed, 0

abstaining)

LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE ITEMS

Access to Pasture Recommendation - Approved as amended. Jim Riddle moved to

approve and Goldie Caughlan seconded the motion. (14 in favor, 0 opposed, 0

abstaining)

Antibiotics in Vaccines and Semen Recommendation - Approved. Dave Carter moved

to approve and Kim Burton seconded the motion. (14 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstaining)

Apiculture Task Force Recommendations - Approved. George Siemon moved to

approve and Owusu Bandele seconded the motion. (13 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstaining)

MATERIALS COMMITTEE ITEMS

Crops Materials

The following materials were determined to be synthetic and prohibited for use in organic

crop production.

Monocalcium Phosphate – For the purpose of conserving nitrogen in the

compost pile. (14 synthetic, 0 natural, 0 abstaining; 1 approve, 13 prohibit, 0

abstaining)

Calcium Chloride – Non Brine Process is synthetic and prohibited. (14

synthetic, 0 natural, 0 abstaining; 0 approve, 14 prohibit, 0 abstaining)

The following material was determined to be non-synthetic and prohibited, with

annotation, for use in organic crop production.

Calcium Chloride - Brine Process is natural and prohibited for use except as a

foliar spray to treat a physiological disorder associated with calcium uptake. (1

synthetic, 13 natural, 0 abstaining; 2 approve, 12 prohibit, 0 abstaining)
Summary of the October 2001

NOSB Meeting in Washington, DC

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The following material has been determined to be synthetic and approved for use in

organic crop production.

Copper Sulfate – NOSB approved amending the existing National List usage to

add “...; only with documented need as an algicide and tadpole shrimp control in

aquatic rice systems; not to exceed one application per field per two year interval;

used in a manner to minimize accumulation of copper in the soil and water

systems.” This material was previously determined to be synthetic. (10 approve,

3 prohibit, 1 abstaining)

The NOSB reaffirmed its October 26, 1999, vote to allow the use of ethylene for the post

harvest ripening of tropical fruit and degreening. Rosie Koenig moved to reaffirm the

vote and Eric Sideman seconded the motion. (10 in favor, 0 opposed, 4 abstaining). The

current annotation does not allow for degreening. The recommended amendment to the

annotation will be included in the proposed rule to amend the National List.

Livestock Materials

The following Livestock materials have been determined to be synthetic and approved,

with annotation, for use in organic livestock production:

DL-Methionine, DL-Methionine Hydroxy Analog, and DL-Methionine

Hydroxy Analog Calcium – The NOSB determined that these materials are not

consistent with organic agriculture but approved them for interim use, until

October 21, 2005, by the organic poultry industry to allow the phasing out of their

use. (14 synthetic, 0 natural, 0 abstaining; 14 approve, 0 prohibit, 0 abstaining)

The NOSB also voted that if the Office of General Counsel says no to the shorter

sunset date, the material remains prohibited and the NOSB will reconsider the

material at a future meeting. (8 in favor, 3 opposed, 3 abstaining)

Processing Materials

The following materials were determined to be synthetic and approved for use in organic

processing:

Ammonioum Hydroxide – For use as boiler water additive only with removal

from the National List October 21, 2005. If the Office of General Counsel says

no to the shorter sunset date, the material remains prohibited. (11 synthetic, 0

natural, 3 abstaining; 10 approve, 1 prohibit, 3 abstaining)

Cyclohexlamine – For use as a boiler water additive for packaging sterilization

only. (11 synthetic, 0 natural, 3 abstaining; 8 approve, 3 prohibit, 3 abstaining)

Octadecylamine – For use as a boiler water additive for packaging sterilization

only. (11 synthetic, 0 natural, 3 abstaining; 8 approve, 3 prohibit, 3 abstaining)
Summary of the October 2001

NOSB Meeting in Washington, DC

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Postassium Hydroxide – Approved amending the annotation to read: prohibited

for use in lye peeling of fruits and vegetables except when used for peeling

peaches during the Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) production process. This

material was previously determined to be synthetic. (14 approve, 0 prohibit, 0

abstaining)

Cellulose – For use in regenerative casings, as an anti-caking agent (non-chlorine

bleached) and filtering aid. (12 synthetic, 0 natural, 2 abstaining; 10 approve, 0

prohibit, 4 abstaining)

The following materials were determined to be synthetic and prohibited for use in organic

processing:

Morpholine – The motion, to allow this material for use as a boiler water additive

for packaging sterilization only, failed. (10 synthetic, 0 natural, 4 abstaining; 6

approve, 4 prohibit, 4 abstaining)

Sodium Phosphates – The motion, to amend the current annotation by adding

formulated with soymilk or dry soymilk products, failed. The current annotation

remains as published in section 205.605(b)(33). This material was previously

determined to be synthetic. (3 approve, 10 prohibit, 1 abstaining)

The following Processing materials have been deferred until the May 2002 NOSB

meeting:

Diethylaminoethanol

Glycerol Monooleate

PROCESSING COMMITTEE ITEMS

No action items.

CROPS COMMITTEE ITEMS

Composting - The NOSB approved creation of a Compost Task Force to address

unresolved compost issues. The task force is expected to recommended additional

compose regulations at the NOSB's May 2002 meeting.

Greenhouse Production Systems Recommendation - Approved as amended. Jim

Riddle moved to approve and Steven Harper seconded the motion. (13 in favor, 0

opposed, 0 abstaining, 1 absent)

Mushroom Production Recommendation - Approved as amended. Eric Sideman

moved to approve and George Siemon seconded the motion. (11 in favor, 1 opposed, 1

abstaining, 1 absent)
Summary of the October 2001

NOSB Meeting in Washington, DC

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ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE ITEMS

Principles of Organic Production and Handling Recommendation - Approved. Dave

Carter moved to approve and Jim Riddle seconded the motion. (13 in favor, 0 opposed, 0

abstaining, 1 absent)

Small Farmer Exemption Recommendation - Approved. Jim Riddle moved to

approve and Becky Goldburg seconded the motion. (13 in favor, 0 opposed, 0

abstaining, 1 absent)

Enclosed in a Container requirement for Exclusion of Handler - No vote due to

withdrawal of the item by the Accreditation Committee.

Certification of Private Label Products Recommendation - Approved as amended.

Jim Riddle moved to approve and Kim Burton seconded the motion. (12 in favor, 1

opposed, 0 abstaining, 1 absent)

AQUATIC WORKING GROUP ITEMS

Aquatic Animal Task Force Recommendations - The NOSB accepted the report of the

aquatic animal task force and approved the following recommend:

1. No standards be developed for wild caught aquatic animals;

2. Standards be developed for the production of farmed aquatic animals that reflect an

innovative approach to organic certification while remaining fully consistent with the

statutory requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act; and

3. If standards are developed for farmed aquatic animals, we recommend that the

National Organic Program and the National Organic Standards Board use the aquatic

animal task force report as guidance.

Eric Sideman moved to approve and Willie Lockeretz seconded the motion. (14 in favor,

0 opposed, 0 abstaining)

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

Dave Carter was elected Chairperson.

Jim Riddle was elected Vice-Chairperson.

The position of Secretary will be filled at a later date.

THE NEXT NOSB MEETING
Summary of the October 2001

NOSB Meeting in Washington, DC

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The next NOSB meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 7-9, 2002, in Austin, Texas.