Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for addition to or removal from the 

National List. They do not represent official National Organic Program (NOP) policy/regulations or NOSB recommendations. Proposals 

must be voted on by the full Board, to become recommendations to the USDA. Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, 

regulations, and status of substances used in organic production and handling.

Materials (MS) (GMO ad hoc) Subcommittee Notes

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 1:00 pm ET

Present: Franklin Quarcoo (FQ), Chair; Wood Turner (WT), Vice Chair; Mindee Jeffery; Brian Caldwell (BC); Nate 

Lewis (NL); Logan Petrey (LP); Kyla Smith (KS); Dilip Nandwani (DN)

Absent: None

Staff: Michelle Arsenault (MA); Jared Clark (JC); Heather Kumar (HK); Esu Obu (EO)

Agenda

• Review January 9, 2024 notes 

• Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss/vote

• Research Priorities (WT/All) - discuss/vote

• Excluded Methods (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss/vote

• Additional Items

• Adjourn

Discussion

• January 30, 2024 notes were accepted as written.

• Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products Discussion Document (NL, FQ, LP, BC). During the last NOSB 

meeting, the Materials Subcommittee posted a brief document with questions in the open docket, but 

this is the first meeting they will present a fully flushed out discussion document. The document

includes 4 options for reviewing inerts, as well as a spreadsheet compiled by the NOP Food 

Technologists listing the inert substances on 4A and 4B. The lead summarized the comments they 

received previously, and noted there was no consensus. The MS intends on making the process as 

transparent as possible given the complexity and interest. Members provided feedback on the work-todate, noting that it is an information-gathering-tool at the moment. The MS voted on the document and 

will submit it for the Spring meeting. 

Motion to accept the discussion document on inert ingredients in pesticide products 

Motion by: NL

Seconded by: BC

Yes: 6 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0 Absent: 2

• Research Priorities (WT/All). The group reviewed the lists of priorities from the other Subcommittees. 

The lead will finalize the document and recirculate it so members can view the final version before

voting via email. (Note: the final vote was tallied and recorded below)

Motion to accept the discussion document on research priorities

Motion by: WT

Seconded by: BC

Yes: 8 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0 Absent: 0

• Technical Report (TR) Update Proposal (MJ). The group discussed the request by NOP to repost this as 

a proposal, so stakeholders have one more opportunity to submit feedback. The MS voted on the 

proposal and will submit it to NOP for the Spring meeting. 

Motion to accept the proposal on TR template Updates
Motion by: MJ

Seconded by: NL 

Yes: 7 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0 Absent: 1

• Additional Items. None. 

• The meeting was adjourned

Previous MS Notes

Future call schedule (2nd Tuesday 1:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT, except where noted) 

January 30, 2024 Additional call

February 13, 2024

Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss/vote

Research Priorities (WT/All) - discuss/vote

Excluded Methods (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss/vote

March 12, 2024

April 9, 2024

May 14, 2024

June 11, 2024

July 9, 2024

August 13, 2024

September 10, 2024

October 8, 2024

November 12, 2024

December 10, 2024

Work Agenda

*Highlight indicates discussion. *Highlight indicates action needed. *Highlight indicates review completion

and/or vote.

Projects

Project National 

List

Contact Doc Type Notes Scheduled

/ status

Target

meeting

Research Priorities

(RPs)

N/A WT Discussion 

Doc 

May 2012 Framework 

Proposal

Subcommittee reps to MS:

Handling (HS): LP/DN

Crops (CS): BC

Livestock (LS): BC

RPs due to MS from HS, CS, 

and LS by 01.16.24

2.13.24 Spr 2024

Excluded Methods N/A MJ/DN

/LP

Discussion 

Doc 

MS requested TR on induced 

mutagenesis 1.10.23. TR due 

to NOP end-June. TR sent to 

MS 7.6.23. TR sufficiency due 

9.4.23. TR found sufficient 

8.8.23.

12.12.23 Fall 2024
Milestones 

Tall oil, distilled 205.601

205.603

WT HOLD 2008 Petition (distilled tall 

oil). 2010 TR (tall oil).

Petition sent to MS 9.4.20. 

Petition suff/TR request due 

12.8.20. Petition found 

sufficient 12.8.20, and the 

MS requested a TR. TR due 

mid-Aug. TR sent to MS 

8.13.21. TR suff due 

10.12.21. TR found sufficient 

10.12.21. Additional 

information from petitioner 

sent to MS 2.8.22 (see AMSNOP-21-0087-0003). 

Returned to Subcomm at Spr 

2022 meeting. On hold 

pending results from 

ANPR/guidance. 

12.12.23 TBD

Inert Ingredients in 

Pesticide Products

Misc. FQ, NL, 

LP, BC

Discussion 

Doc 

June 23, 2023 NOP Memo 9.12.23

10.10.23

11.14.23

12.12.23

1.9.24

2.13.24

Spr 2024

Technical Report (TR) 

Update 

N/A MJ Proposal 1.9.24

1.30.24

2.13.24

Spring 2024 Milestones Target dates (tentative) Weeks PTM 

(prior to meeting)

NOP - Publish FRN, Open public comment ~Nov 17, 2023 16 -20

NOP - Draft Spring 2024 NOSB meeting tentative agenda Feb 9, 2024 ~ 10

NOSB - Spring 2024 proposals due to NOP Feb 15, 2024 ~ 9 

NOP - Post proposals Mar 5, 2024 7.5

Public comment closes Apr 3, 2024 3.5

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 5, 2024 3

Public comment webinars Apr 23 & 25, 2024 1 

Spring 2024 NOSB meeting - Milwaukee, WI Apr 29 - May 1, 2024 0

Final recommendations due May 29, 2024 30 days post 

meeting
Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for addition to or removal from the 

National List. They do not represent official National Organic Program (NOP) policy/regulations or NOSB recommendations. Proposals 

must be voted on by the full Board, to become recommendations to the USDA. Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, 

regulations, and status of substances used in organic production and handling.

Materials (MS) (GMO ad hoc) Subcommittee Notes

Tuesday, January 30 2024 1:00 pm ET

Present: Franklin Quarcoo (FQ), Chair; Wood Turner (WT), Vice Chair; Mindee Jeffery; Brian Caldwell (BC)

Absent: Nate Lewis (NL); Logan Petrey (LP); Kyla Smith (KS); Dilip Nandwani (DN)

Staff: Michelle Arsenault (MA); Jared Clark (JC); Heather Kumar (HK); Esu Obu (EO)

Agenda

• Review January 9, 2024 notes 

• Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss/vote

• Research Priorities (WT/All) - discuss/vote

• Excluded Methods (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss/vote

• Additional Items

• Adjourn

Discussion 

• Review of the January 9, 2024 notes was deferred due to lack of quorum

• Technical Report (TR) update (MJ). The lead circulated a draft document, and the group provided 

feedback. There were no substantive changes, and the Subcommittee members were supportive of the 

document as presented. The group discussed the use of the different phrases based on the National List 

scope: ancillary substances in handling, and excipients and inerts in Crops and Livestock. The MS is 

seeking additional feedback from stakeholders, and deferred the vote to the February 13 call due to lack 

of quorum. 

• Additional Items. None. 

• The meeting was adjourned

Previous MS Notes

Future call schedule (2nd Tuesday 1:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT, except where noted) 

January 9, 2024

Excluded Methods Discussion Doc (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss 

Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss

January 30, 2024 Additional call

February 13, 2024

Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss/vote

Research Priorities (WT/All) - discuss/vote

Technical Report (TR) update (MJ) - discuss/vote

March 12, 2024

April 9, 2024

May 14, 2024

June 11, 2024

July 9, 2024

August 13, 2024

September 10, 2024

October 8, 2024

November 12, 2024

December 10, 2024
Work Agenda

*Highlight indicates discussion. *Highlight indicates action needed. *Highlight indicates review completion

and/or vote.

Projects

Project National 

List

Con- tact Doc Type Notes Scheduled

/ status

Target

meeting

Research Priorities

(RPs)

N/A WT Discussion 

Doc 

May 2012 Framework 

Proposal

Subcommittee reps to MS:

Handling (HS): LP/DN

Crops (CS): BC

Livestock (LS): BC

RPs due to MS from HS, CS, 

and LS by 01.16.24

2.13.24 Spr 2024

Excluded Methods N/A MJ/DN

/LP

Discussion 

Doc 

MS requested TR on induced 

mutagenesis 1.10.23. TR due 

to NOP end-June. TR sent to 

MS 7.6.23. TR sufficiency due 

9.4.23. TR found sufficient 

8.8.23.

12.12.23 Fall 2024

Tall oil, distilled 205.601

205.603

WT HOLD 2008 Petition (distilled tall 

oil). 2010 TR (tall oil).

Petition sent to MS 9.4.20. 

Petition suff/TR request due 

12.8.20. Petition found 

sufficient 12.8.20, and the 

MS requested a TR. TR due 

mid-Aug. TR sent to MS 

8.13.21. TR suff due 

10.12.21. TR found sufficient 

10.12.21. Additional 

information from petitioner 

sent to MS 2.8.22 (see AMSNOP-21-0087-0003). 

Returned to Subcomm at Spr 

2022 meeting. On hold 

pending results from 

ANPR/guidance. 

12.12.23 TBD

Inert Ingredients in 

Pesticide Products

Misc. FQ, NL, 

LP, BC

Discussion 

Doc 

June 23, 2023 NOP Memo 9.12.23

10.10.23

11.14.23

12.12.23

1.9.24

2.13.24

Spr 2024
Milestones 

Technical Report (TR) 

Update 

N/A MJ Proposal 1.9.24

1.30.24

2.13.24

Spring 2024 Milestones Target dates (tentative) Weeks PTM 

(prior to meeting)

NOP - Publish FRN, Open public comment ~Nov 17, 2023 16 -20

NOP - Draft Spring 2024 NOSB meeting tentative agenda Feb 9, 2024 ~ 10

NOSB - Spring 2024 proposals due to NOP Feb 15, 2024 ~ 9 

NOP - Post proposals Mar 5, 2024 7.5

Public comment closes Apr 3, 2024 3.5

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 5, 2024 3

Public comment webinars Apr 23 & 25, 2024 1 

Spring 2024 NOSB meeting - Milwaukee, WI Apr 29 - May 1, 2024 0

Final recommendations due May 29, 2024 30 days post 

meeting
Note: Subcommittee notes may include preliminary discussions regarding substances considered for addition to or removal from the 

National List. They do not represent official National Organic Program (NOP) policy/regulations or NOSB recommendations. Proposals 

must be voted on by the full Board, to become recommendations to the USDA. Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, 

regulations, and status of substances used in organic production and handling.

Materials (MS) (GMO ad hoc) Subcommittee Notes

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 1:00 pm ET

Present: Franklin Quarcoo (FQ), Chair; Wood Turner (WT), Vice Chair; Mindee Jeffery; Nate Lewis (NL); Logan 

Petrey (LP); Kyla Smith (KS); Dilip Nandwani (DN); Brian Caldwell (BC)

Absent: None

Staff: Michelle Arsenault (MA); Jared Clark (JC); Heather Kumar (HK)

Agenda

• Review December 12, 2023 notes 

• Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss

• Excluded Methods TR Template status (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss 

• Additional Items

• Adjourn

Discussion 

• December 12, 2024 notes were accepted with modifications. 

• Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC). The leads developed a spreadsheet as a starting 

point for the Food Technologists, which they hope will be helpful when evaluating the various scenarios

and options for inerts. It includes a summary of stakeholder input, and an explanation of the options, to 

help focus the possible outcomes. The MS is also interested in hosting a panel on inerts between Board 

meetings; perhaps in June. They are approaching this project in two phases: Phase 1 will be a discussion 

document for the Spring 2024 meeting that includes the spreadsheet, and Phase 2 may include some 

solutions (perhaps grouping the inerts by functional group), and would be presented at the Fall 2024 

meeting. A member recalled feedback from public comment suggesting that the inerts be grouped into a 

different section of the regulations. The MS will discuss further and vote on the next call.

• Excluded Methods TR Template status (MJ/DN/LP). The group discussed the TR template status. The 

templates have been through several iterations, and have been modified with feedback from 

stakeholders and the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), who currently writes the TRs. The 

process has been long, and the MS is unanimous in their sentiment that they are ready to be 

implemented. One member suggested minor edits regarding microorganisms, and the lead suggested it 

might be better to encourage future Boards to address questions about fermentation. after NOP makes 

a determination about inerts. The addition of these questions is really about feedstocks, and could be 

seen as creating policy where none exists. Also, it’s not clear how certifiers would use that information. 

Two other members suggested a question about ancillary substances. The lead will add minor changes 

and submit the document to the NOP. 

Additional Items. Research priorities. The MS will divide the lists in each Subcommittee into two 

categories: top priorities and ongoing research. This way, it highlights topics for researchers. 

• The meeting was adjourned

Previous MS Notes

Future call schedule (2nd Tuesday 1:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT, except where noted) 

December 12, 2023

Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC)

January 9, 2024

Excluded Methods Discussion Doc (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss 

Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss
February 13, 2024

Inert Ingredients in Pesticide Products (FQ, NL, LP, BC) - discuss/vote

Research Priorities (WT/All) - discuss/vote

Excluded Methods (MJ/DN/LP) - discuss/vote

March 12, 2024

April 9, 2024

May 14, 2024

June 11, 2024

July 9, 2024

August 13, 2024

September 10, 2024

October 8, 2024

November 12, 2024

December 10, 2024

Work Agenda

*Highlight indicates discussion. *Highlight indicates action needed. *Highlight indicates review completion

and/or vote.

Projects

Project National 

List

Contact Doc Type Notes Scheduled

/ status

Target

meeting

Research Priorities

(RPs)

N/A WT Discussion 

Doc 

May 2012 Framework 

Proposal

Subcommittee reps to MS:

Handling (HS): LP/DN

Crops (CS): BC

Livestock (LS): BC

RPs due to MS from HS, CS, 

and LS by 01.16.24

2.13.24 Spr 2024

Excluded Methods N/A MJ/DN

/LP

Discussion 

Doc 

MS requested TR on induced 

mutagenesis 1.10.23. TR due 

to NOP end-June. TR sent to 

MS 7.6.23. TR sufficiency due 

9.4.23. TR found sufficient 

8.8.23.

12.12.23 Fall 2024
Milestones 

Tall oil, distilled 205.601

205.603

WT HOLD 2008 Petition (distilled tall 

oil). 2010 TR (tall oil).

Petition sent to MS 9.4.20. 

Petition suff/TR request due 

12.8.20. Petition found 

sufficient 12.8.20, and the 

MS requested a TR. TR due 

mid-Aug. TR sent to MS 

8.13.21. TR suff due 

10.12.21. TR found sufficient 

10.12.21. Additional 

information from petitioner 

sent to MS 2.8.22 (see AMSNOP-21-0087-0003). 

Returned to Subcomm at Spr 

2022 meeting. On hold 

pending results from 

ANPR/guidance. 

12.12.23 TBD

Inert Ingredients in 

Pesticide Products

Misc. FQ, NL, 

LP, BC

Discussion 

Doc 

June 23, 2023 NOP Memo 9.12.23

10.10.23

11.14.23

12.12.23

1.9.24

2.13.24

Spr 2024

Technical Report (TR) 

Update 

N/A MJ Proposal 1.9.24

1.30.24

2.13.24

Spring 2024 Milestones Target dates (tentative) Weeks PTM 

(prior to meeting)

NOP - Publish FRN, Open public comment ~Nov 17, 2023 16 -20

NOP - Draft Spring 2024 NOSB meeting tentative agenda Feb 9, 2024 ~ 10

NOSB - Spring 2024 proposals due to NOP Feb 15, 2024 ~ 9 

NOP - Post proposals Mar 5, 2024 7.5

Public comment closes Apr 3, 2024 3.5

NOP - Send compiled public comments to NOSB Apr 5, 2024 3

Public comment webinars Apr 23 & 25, 2024 1 

Spring 2024 NOSB meeting - Milwaukee, WI Apr 29 - May 1, 2024 0

Final recommendations due May 29, 2024 30 days post 

meeting