USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 Meeting Agenda Revised April 19, 2015  

  

   

                                                       i

National Organic Standards Board Meeting

Ballroom, Salons A‐D,  La Jolla Marriott  La Jolla, CA 92037 April 27‐30, 2015  

Agenda  

Schedule at a Glance:  

Monday   

April 27

Tuesday

April 28

Wednesday

April 29

Thursday

April 30

MORNING

Call to Order/Introductions/    

Secretary’s Report  

NOP Report

Materials Update

NOSB Report

EPA Safer Choice Program

(DfE) Presentation

Public Comments   

Public Comments

Continued

Handling     

Subcommittee  

Materials Subcommittee

+ Seed Purity Panel

Compliance, Accreditation &

Certification Subcommittee  

Livestock  

Subcommittee  

AFTERNOON

Public Comments  Continued

NOSB Group Photo

Handling     

Subcommittee  

Crops   

Subcommittee  

Deferred Items/Final  Votes   

Work Agendas   

Plaque Presentation  

Other Business/Closing       

Remarks  

Meeting Format

 The Designated Federal Officer (DFO/NOP Deputy Administrator) will call the meeting to order, and the NOSB

Chair will facilitate the meeting.

 The USDA and National Organic Program (NOP) provide the NOSB with updates, reports, and an overview of

petitioned substances, sunset materials, and technical reports.   

 The Board hears public comments, which are grouped by topic to facilitate review.   

 NOSB members present Subcommittee proposals and discussion documents, discuss public comment, and then

the NOSB votes on proposals. Final votes may be deferred to the last day of the meeting if more deliberation is

needed.  

 NOTE: Agenda items may be withdrawn or votes may be postponed at the discretion of the Board.

 There will be two 15‐minute breaks (mid‐morning & mid‐afternoon) and a 75‐minute lunch break mid‐day.

Oral Public Comments                 

 All persons wishing to comment at NOSB meetings during the public comment period are asked to sign up in

advance. Instructions are available at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings. Walk‐in comment slots may become

available on a first come‐first served basis at the meeting, if the schedule allows.

 Each commenter must state his/her name and affiliation for the record at the beginning of their comment.

 Each person may sign up for only one speaking slot.  The amount of time provided for each comment will be

determined by the number of commenters and the time available.  
USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 Meeting Agenda Revised April 19, 2015  

  

   

                                                       ii

MONDAY APRIL 27, 2015

8:30 AM Call to Order, Agenda Overview

Miles McEvoy, AMS Deputy Administrator

Introductions

Dr. Jean Richardson, Chairperson

Secretary’s Report, Acceptance of October 2014 Meeting  Summary and Voting Results as

Official Record

Harold Austin, Secretary

9:00 AM National Organic Program Report

Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator, National Organic Program (NOP)

9:45 AM NOSB Report  

Dr. Jean Richardson, NOSB Chairperson

10:00 AM National Organic Program ‐ Materials Update/Summary of New and Outstanding Petitions

Dr. Lisa M. Brines, NOP National List Manager   

10:20 AM   BREAK (10 min)

10:30 AM Presentation on Inerts: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice Program

(formerly Design for the Environment)

Clive Davies, Chief, Design for the Environment Branch at EPA

11:30 AM Public Comments ‐ remainder of day  

12:30 PM LUNCH (75 min)

3:30 PM   BREAK (15 min)

6:30 PM RECESS

Group Photo
USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 Meeting Agenda Revised April 19, 2015  

  

   

                                                       iii

TUESDAY APRIL 28, 2015

8:30 AM Public Comments  

10:30 AM BREAK

10:45 AM Public Comments Continued

12:30 PM LUNCH

1:45 PM Public Comments Continued

3:15 PM Handling Subcommittee

Harold Austin, Chairperson

Topics:

Proposal: Glycerin ‐ petitioned for removal

Proposal: Whole Algal Flour ‐ petitioned

Proposal: Ammonium Hydroxide ‐ petitioned (PETITION WITHDRAWN MARCH 16, 2015)

Proposal: PGME ‐ petitioned

Proposal: Triethyl citrate‐ petitioned

Proposal: Ancillary Substances for Microorganisms  

2016 Sunset Review:

Egg White Lysozyme  

L‐Malic Acid  

                             Microorganisms

Activated Charcoal

Peracetic Acid

Cyclohexylamine

Diethylaminoethanol  

Octadecylamine

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (SAPP)

Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (TSPP)

2017 Sunset Summaries: See end of agenda for complete list of materials  

3:45 PM BREAK

4:00 PM Handling Subcommittee continued

6:30 PM RECESS
USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 Meeting Agenda Revised April 19, 2015  

  

   

                                                       iv

WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2015

8:30 AM Handling Subcommittee Continued

Harold Austin, Chairperson

Topics:

See previous day for list of topics

10:30 AM BREAK

10:45 AM Handling Subcommittee Continued

Subcommittee discusses proposals as needed

Board votes if ready

12:30 PM LUNCH

1:45 PM Crops Subcommittee  

Zea Sonnabend, Chairperson  

Topics:

Proposal: Exhaust Gas ‐ petitioned

Proposal: Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) ‐ (PETITION WITHDRAWN MARCH 11, 2015)

Proposal: Calcium Sulfate ‐ petitioned

Proposal: 3‐decene‐2‐one ‐ petitioned

Report: Contamination Issues in Farm Inputs  

2016 Sunset reviews

                          Ferric Phosphate  

                          Hydrogen Chloride

2017 Sunset Summaries: See end of agenda for complete list of materials  

3:30 PM BREAK

3:45 PM Crops Subcommittee continued

Subcommittee discusses proposals as needed

Board votes if ready

5:30 PM RECESS
USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 Meeting Agenda Revised April 19, 2015  

  

   

                                                       v

THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

8:30 AM Materials Subcommittee

Dr. C. Reuben (Calvin) Walker, Chairperson

Seed Purity Panel

Topics:            

           Discussion Document: Excluded Methods Terminology

           Discussion Document:  Prevention Strategy Guidance for Excluded Methods in Crops            

                                                    and Handling

10:25 AM BREAK

10:40 AM Compliance, Accreditation and Certification Subcommittee  

Carmela Beck, Chairperson

Topics:  

           Proposal: Peer Review

Subcommittee discusses proposals as needed

Board votes if ready

11:00 AM Livestock Subcommittee  

Tracy Favre, Chairperson  

Topics:

Proposal: Methionine (MET) ‐ petitioned

Proposal: Acidified Sodium Chlorite (ASC) ‐ petitioned

Proposal: Zinc Sulfate ‐ petitioned

Discussion Document: Aquaculture Legacy Document

2017 Sunset Summaries: See end of agenda for complete list of materials  

12:30 PM LUNCH

1:45 PM Livestock Subcommittee continued

Subcommittee discusses proposals as needed

Board votes if ready

2:45 PM Deferred Proposals/Final Votes  

3:30 PM BREAK

3:45 PM Deferred Proposals/Final Votes  

4:45 PM Subcommittee Workplans

5:00 PM Presentation of Plaques for Incoming Members  

5:15 PM Other Business and Closing Remarks  

5:30 PM ADJOURN
USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 Meeting Agenda Revised April 19, 2015  

  

   

                                                       vi

2017 Sunset Materials

Handling 2017 Sunset Materials

§205.605(a) Nonsynthetics allowed   

Acid, Alginic

Acid, Citric

Acid, Lactic

Attapulgite

Bentonite

Calcium carbonate

Calcium chloride

Dairy cultures

Diatomaceous earth

Enzymes

Flavors

Kaolin

Magnesium sulfate

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Perlite

Potassium chloride

Potassium iodide

Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium carbonate

Waxes: Carnauba  

Waxes: Wood rosin

Yeast

§205.605(b) Synthetics allowed

Acidified sodium chlorite

Alginates

Ammonium bicarbonate

Ammonium carbonate

Ascorbic acid

Calcium citrate

Calcium hydroxide

Calcium phosphates: monobasic, dibasic, tribasic

Carbon dioxide

Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine

dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite)

Ethylene

Ferrous sulfate

Glycerides: mono and di

Glycerin

Hydrogen peroxide

Magnesium carbonate

Magnesium chloride

Magnesium stearate

Nutrient vitamins and minerals

Ozone

Phosphoric acid

Potassium acid tartrate

Potassium carbonate

Potassium citrate

Potassium phosphate

Sodium citrate

Sodium hydroxide

Sodium phosphates

Sulfur dioxide

Tocopherols

Xanthan gum

§205.606 (PDF) Nonorganically produced agricultural

products allowed as ingredients in or on processed

products labeled as “organic.”

Casings

Celery powder

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Colors: Various

Dillweed oil

Fish oil

Fructooligosaccharides

Galangal, frozen

Gelatin

Gums: Arabic, Carob bean, Guar, Locust bean

Inulin‐oligofructose enriched

Kelp

Konjac flour

Lecithin ‐ de‐oiled

Lemongrass‐frozen

Orange pulp, dried

Orange Shellac ‐ unbleached

Pectin (non‐amidated forms only)

Peppers (Chipotle chile)

Seaweed, Pacific kombu

Starches, Cornstarch (native), Sweet potato  

Turkish bay leaves

Wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida)

Whey protein concentrate
USDA‐AMS | National Organic Program

         National Organic Standards Board | Spring 2015 DRAFT Meeting Agenda Revised March 17, 2015  

  

   

                                                       ii

Crops 2017 Sunset Materials

§205.601 Synthetic substances allowed for use in

organic crop production  

Alcohol (Ethanol, Isopropanol)

Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine

dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite)

Hydrogen peroxide

Soap‐based algicide/demossers

Herbicides, soap‐based

Newspaper or other recycled paper

Plastic mulch and covers  

Soaps, ammonium

Ammonium carbonate

Boric acid

Elemental sulfur

Lime sulfur

Oils, horticultural

Soaps, insecticidal

Sticky traps/barriers

Sucrose octanoate esters

Pheromones

Vitamin D3

Copper sulfate

Coppers, fixed

Hydrated lime

Potassium bicarbonate

Aquatic plant extracts

Humic acids

Lignin sulfonate

Magnesium sulfate

Micronutrients (Soluble boron products, Sulfates,

carbonates, oxides, or silicates of zinc, copper, iron,

manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt)

Liquid fish products

Vitamin B1, C, E

Ethylene

Sodium silicate

EPA List 4 ‐ Inerts of Minimal Concern

Microcrystalline cheesewax

§205.602 Prohibited nonsynthetic substances  

Ash from manure burning

Arsenic

Lead salts

Potassium chloride

Sodium fluoaluminate

Strychnine

Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate)

Livestock 2017 Sunset Materials

§205.603 Synthetic substances allowed for use in  

organic livestock production  

Alcohols (Ethanol, Isopropanol)

Aspirin

Atropine

Biologics, Vaccines

Butorphanol

Chlorhexidine

Chlorine Materials (Calcium hypochlorite, Chlorine

dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite)

Electrolytes

Flunixin

Furosemide

Glucose

Glycerin

Hydrogen peroxide

Iodine

Magnesium hydroxide

Magnesium sulfate

Oxytocin

Parasiticides (Fenbendazole, Ivermectin, Moxidectin)

Peroxyacetic/Peracetic acid  

Phosphoric acid

Poloxalene

Tolazoline

Xylazine

Copper sulfate

Formic Acid

Iodine

Lidocaine

Lime, hydrated

Mineral oil

Procaine

Sucrose octanoate esters

Methionine

Trace minerals

Vitamins

EPA List 4 ‐ Inerts of Minimal Concern

Excipients

§205.604 Prohibited nonsynthetic substances  

Strychnine