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NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD (NOSB)
The meeting opened on the afternoon of April 26. After the opening formalities, Deputy Administrator Miles McEvoy gave a very informative presentation on the National Organic Program (NOP) accomplishments the past year and the priorities for the upcoming months. The priorities are: upholding and enforcing standards, implementing and enforcing the recently released “Access to Pasture” final rule, implementing NOSB recommendations, developing a strategic plan, certifier training, refining the NOP handbook, improve the NOP website and organic data base. Miles also discussed the critical Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit of the NOP and the corrective actions to be taken. The audit was for the period prior to Miles taking over NOP. The audit’s key findings were: need for timely enforcement, failure to implement residue testing as required by law, improve quality management and audits of foreign certifiers. Miles reported on organizational changes introducing some of the new staff of NOP’s now 32 people. He also divulged USDA plans to get many Department Agencies involved in organics, including creating a Department’s organic coordinator. Miles presented the NOP Strategic Planning update. The Plans review and rollout is scheduled for June and July. He also gave in writing NOP responses to several NOSB recommendations on materials, nutrient vitamins and minerals in organic food, and organic certification of cosmetics & personal care products. Any one that is interested can contact me for more information. The second day was devoted exclusively to public comments, which ran well into the evening. One of the most hotly debated items was the addition of synthetic methionine to poultry feed. A number of egg producers as well as the Methionine Task Force and certifiers argued they needed synthetic methionine because alternate natural sources were not available in sufficient quantities. Other commenters disagreed stating other alternatives did exist and that access to pasture would reduce the need. On the final /voting day, the majority of the Board voted to continue the use, but at a stepped down rate. Stocking rates for the Animal Welfare recommendation also received many comments on the second day. Day three was Committee presentations and Board member questioning. Materials due for “Sunset” in 2012 took up much time. Topics of special interest were: handling of the list 4 inerts in pesticides, alternative procedures for handling Sunset, Production Standards for plants grown in containers and enclosures (greenhouses), classification of materials definitions, nanotechnology and “Made with Organic” seal discussion. After reviewing the written and oral comments, the Crops Committee revised the Inerts recommendation to request NOP to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with EPA to arrive at a solution to the inerts problem and suggesting a Task force might be a tool in resolving the complex issues. This was approved by the Board on the final day. If you are interested the complete Meeting transcript will be on the NOSB web site. All the Committees are already busy working on action items for the Fall Meeting, location unknown, but some where east of the Mississippi. I urge you to indulge your expertise and comment on the recommendations and discussion paper. I wish you a great organic summer! |
©2010 Montana Organic Association
