[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62336-62339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25551]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-11-0081; NOP-11-15]


Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

DATES: The meeting dates are Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 8 a.m. to 5:30 
p.m.; Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, 
December 1, 2011, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, December 2, 2011, 8 
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pre-registration requests for public comments at the 
meeting are due by midnight Eastern Time on Sunday, November 13, 2011. 
Written comments received after November 13, 2011 may not be reviewed 
by the NOSB before the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Hilton Savannah Desoto 
Hotel, 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401.
     View NOSB meeting agenda and draft recommendations at 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Requests for copies of these materials may 
be sent to Ms. Lorraine Coke, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-
AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646-So., Mail Stop 0268, 
Washington, DC 20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; [email protected].
     Submit written comments at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosbsavannah. Comments received after November 13, 2011, may not be 
reviewed by the NOSB before the meeting. Written comments may also be 
submitted via mail to Ms. Lorraine Coke, National Organic Standards 
Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646-S, Mail 
Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268. It is our intention to have all 
comments--whether they are submitted by mail or the internet--available 
for viewing at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosbsavannah.

[[Page 62337]]

     Pre-register for a public comment slot at the meeting at 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosbsavannahslots or by calling (202) 720-3252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lorraine Coke, National Organic 
Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646-
So., Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518) of the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) 
requires the establishment of the NOSB. The purpose of the NOSB is to 
make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or 
prohibited in organic production or handling, to assist in the 
development of standards for substances to be used in organic 
production, and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in 
Washington, DC, in March 1992, and currently has six subcommittees 
working on various aspects of the organic program. The committees are: 
Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Handling; 
Livestock; Materials; and Policy Development.
    In August of 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations 
for the NOP to the Secretary of Agriculture. Since that time, the NOSB 
has submitted 269 addenda to its recommendations and reviewed more than 
365 substances for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and 
Prohibited Substances. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published 
its final National Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register 
on December 21, 2000, (65 FR 80548). The rule became effective April 
21, 2001.
    In addition, the OFPA authorizes the National List of Allowed and 
Prohibited Substances and provides that no allowed or prohibited 
substance would remain on the National List for a period exceeding five 
years unless the exemption or prohibition is reviewed and recommended 
for renewal by the NOSB and adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
This expiration is commonly referred to as sunset of the National List. 
The National List appears at 7 CFR part 205, subpart G.
    The principal purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity 
for the organic community to weigh in on proposed NOSB recommendations 
and discussion items. These meetings also allow the NOSB to receive 
updates from the USDA/NOP on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.

Summary of April 2011 Meeting

    At the spring 2011 meeting in Seattle, Washington the NOSB voted on 
the final 28 materials listings that were scheduled to sunset in 2012 
(see Table 1). Of the 28 materials, 21 were relisted, 5 were relisted 
with amended annotations, and 2 were removed from the National List.

  Table 1--Sunset 2012 Material Listings Voted to be Relisted at April
                              2011 Meeting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Substance                       NOSB Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calcium hypochlorite......................  Relist with amended
Chlorine dioxide..........................   annotation ``For pre-
Sodium hypochlorite.......................   harvest use, residual
                                             chlorine levels in the
                                             water in direct crop
                                             contact or as water from
                                             cleaning irrigation systems
                                             applied to soil must not
                                             exceed the maximum residual
                                             disinfectant limit under
                                             the Safe Drinking Water
                                             Act. For disinfecting or
                                             sanitizing equipment or
                                             tools or in edible sprout
                                             production, chlorine
                                             products may be used up to
                                             maximum labeled rates.''
Copper sulfate............................  Relist.
Copper hydroxide..........................  Relist.
Copper oxide..............................  Relist.
Copper oxychloride........................  Relist.
Ethanol...................................  Relist.
Isopropanol...............................  Relist.
Newspapers or other.......................  Relist.
Plastic mulch covers......................  Relist.
Newspapers or other.......................  Relist.
Pheromones................................  Relist.
Sulfur dioxide............................  Remove from National List
Vitamin D3................................  Relist.
Streptomycin..............................  Relist with amended
                                             annotation ``For fire
                                             blight control in apples
                                             and pears, only until
                                             October 21, 2014.''
Lignin sulfonate..........................  Relist.
Magnesium sulfate.........................  Relist.
Ethylene gas..............................  Relist.
Sodium silicate...........................  Relist.
Lignin sulfonate..........................  Relist.
Magnesium sulfate.........................  Relist.
Ethylene gas..............................  Relist.
Sodium silicate...........................  Relist.
Lignin sulfonate..........................  Relist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sodium nitrate............................  Relist and remove annotation
                                             (complete prohibition).
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    Nonsynthetic substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed
        products labeled as ``organic'' or ``made with organic''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enzymes...................................  Relist.
Potassium iodide..........................  Relist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Synthetic substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products
             labeled as ``organic'' or ``made with organic''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nutrient vitamins.........................  Relist.
Nutrient minerals.........................  Relist.

[[Page 62338]]

 
Potassium iodide..........................  Relist.
Tocopherols...............................  Relist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The NOSB voted against relisting sulfur dioxide for use in organic 
crop production and potassium iodide for use as an ingredient in or on 
processed products labeled as ``organic'' or ``made with organic.'' In 
addition, the NOSB voted to remove the annotation for sodium nitrate on 
Sec.  205.602 and establish a complete prohibition by the 2012 Sunset 
date.
    Several petitioned materials were also reviewed at the meeting. The 
NOSB recommended against listing Nickel as a micronutrient; Calcium 
acid pyrophosphate as a leavening agent; and Sodium acid pyrophosphate 
as a sequestrant on cooked and uncooked produce. The NOSB recommended 
to add attapulgite--used to clarify plant and animal oils--to the 
National List as a non-synthetic material and recommended extending the 
expiration date for Tetracycline (for fire blight control in apples and 
pears) until October 21, 2014.
    In additional to their review of materials, the NOSB also passed 
recommendations that would: Amend the definition of ``chemical 
change,'' and update three sections of their Policy and Procedures 
Manual: Sections III and IV, to harmonize the Vice Chair and Policy 
Development Committee job descriptions; and Section V, procedures for 
completing committee recommendations allowing the presenting committee 
to convene and vote to withdraw its recommendation prior to the Board's 
vote on the status of the recommendation.

Fall 2011 Meeting Agenda Items

    The Crops Committee will present recommendations on material 
listings for copper sulfate, ozone, peracetic acid, and calcium 
chloride, which are scheduled to sunset in 2013 (see Table 2). The 
Crops Committee will also present recommendations to the board on four 
petitioned materials: Ammonium nonanoate, ferric phosphate (to remove), 
indole-3-butyric acid, and propane (odorized). The Crops Committee will 
also provide an update on fire blight in tree fruit and a discussion 
document on EPA List 3 inerts.

             Table 2--Crops Substances Scheduled to Sunset in 2013 and Be Addressed at Fall Meeting
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            Section                                   Material                              Expiration date
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Synthetic substances allowed    Copper sulfate......................................  November 3, 2013.
 for use in organic crop        Ozone...............................................  November 3, 2013.
 production.                    Peracetic acid......................................  November 3, 2013.
Nonsynthetic substances         Calcium chloride....................................  November 3, 2013.
 prohibited for use in organic
 crop production.
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    The Livestock Committee will present recommendations on animal 
welfare; stocking rates, animal handling, transit, and slaughter; and 
species-specific scorecards. They will also address animal husbandry.
    The Handling Committee will present recommendations on three 
material listings scheduled to sunset in 2013 (see Table 3). The 
Handling Committee will also present recommendations to the board on 
eight petitioned materials: Annatto extract, arachidonic acid (ARA) 
single-cell oil, beta-carotene, choline, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 
algal oil, potassium hydroxide, sulfur dioxide, and silicon dioxide. 
Other Handling Committee recommendations include a recommendation 
amending the chlorine materials annotation. They will also provide an 
update on nutrient vitamins and minerals.

            Table 3--Handling Substances Scheduled to Sunset in 2013 and Be Addressed at Fall Meeting
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            Section                                   Material                              Expiration date
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Nonsynthetic substances         Animal enzymes......................................  November 3, 2013.
 allowed as ingredients in or   Tartaric acid (made from grape wine)................  November 3, 2013.
 on processed products labeled
 as ``organic'' or ``made with
 organic.
Synthetic substances allowed    Tartaric acid (made from malic acid)................  November 3, 2013.
 as ingredients in or on
 processed products labeled as
 ``organic'' or ``made with
 organic.
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    The Materials Committee will present an aquaculture materials 
review update and a research priorities framework discussion document.
    The Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee will 
present recommendations on the evaluation of material review 
organizations, unannounced inspections, and inspector qualifications.
    The Policy Development Committee will present recommendations on 
four sections of the NOSB Policy and Procedures Manual: administrative 
team, committee transparency, conflict of interest, and NOSB member and 
leadership transition. The Policy Development Committee will also 
present a discussion document on public comment procedures.
    The Meeting is Open to the Public. The NOSB has scheduled time for 
public input for Tuesday, November 29, 2011, from 10:15 a.m. to 5:30 
p.m. and Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The NOSB will 
accommodate as many individuals and organizations as possible during 
these sessions. Individuals and organizations wishing to make oral 
presentations at the meeting should request one short time slot by 
visiting http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosbsavannahslots or by calling (202) 
720-3252. All persons making oral presentations are requested to also 
provide their

[[Page 62339]]

comments in writing. Written submissions may contain information other 
than that presented at the oral presentation. Anyone may submit written 
comments at the meeting. Persons submitting written comments at the 
meeting are asked to provide sixteen copies.
    Interested persons may visit http://www.ams.usda.gov to view NOSB 
recommendations, meeting agenda, and submit and/or view public 
comments.

    Dated: September 29, 2011.
David Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-25551 Filed 10-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P