By Dan Langager, Northwest Horticultural Council, Sept. 5, 2023
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) public comment period is now open. It is important that the NOSB and USDA National Organic Program (NOP) hear from our industry ahead of the NOSB’s annual fall meetings October 24-26, 2023.
We encourage you to submit comments on materials under sunset review to voice the challenges faced by our organic farmers and stakeholders. Comments can be as simple as a couple paragraphs expressing why these materials are important to your organic production. Comments from growers and packers are highly valued by the NOSB.
Important materials under sunset review from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances this fall include:
- Lime sulfur as an insecticide and plant disease control
- Elemental sulfur as an insecticide, plant disease control, and plant or soil amendment
- Alcohols: Ethanol and Isopropanol as disinfectants / sanitizers
- Liquid fish byproducts as a plant or soil amendment
- Plastic mulch and covers as weed barriers (petroleum-based other than PVC)
- Phosphoric acid for the cleaning of food-contact surfaces and equipment
The NOSB will also discuss proposals regarding how inert ingredients are listed in organic regulations. Click here to see the full list of sunset materials and discussion documents.
Submit written comments on NOSB Subcommittee proposals via Regulations.gov (Docket Number: AMS-NOP-23-0026-0002). The deadline to submit written comments is 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
Oral comment registration is open and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, September 28, or once capacity is reached. Registration typically fills up fast, so early registration is encouraged. The board will hear oral comments via two virtual webinars on October 17 and 19, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
Use the NOSB’s October meeting webpage for more information and to sign up for oral commenting. Tips on submitting comments can be found here.
Contact:
If you have any questions or would like assistance submitting comments, please contact Dan Langager [langager@nwhort.org] at the Northwest Horticultural Council, 509-453-3193, or go to the Northwest Horticultural Council website.
