Jun 16, 2021

Fall, in-person meeting planned for organic standards board

Details were recently announced for the fall meeting of the U.S. National Organic Standards Board.

The NOSB usually meets twice a year in a public forum to discuss and vote on recommendations to the USDA. The recommendations help the department of agriculture develop and refine the organic standards.

Online comment webinars will begin Oct. 13-14. In-person public meetings will run October 19-21 at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena, 300 J Street in Sacramento, California. For reservations, call 1-877-666-3243 (Group name: National Organic Standards Board). The cutoff date for room reservations is Friday, September 24, 2021.

In a newsletter, the USDA explained described its plans:

“Based on input from the Board and members of the organic community, the NOSB currently plans to resume in-person meetings in October 2021, subject to Federal, State and local guidance on in-person meetings at the time.

“The in-person meeting will be webcast live for those who are not able to travel. Should circumstances not permit an in-person meeting, the meeting will be held virtually. Updates will be posted to the USDA website.”

Public comment on agenda topics is welcomed and will be heard at the meeting in Sacramento and during the webinars leading up to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted via regulations.gov.

The meeting will be added to the National Organic Standard Board (NOSB) Fall 2021 Meeting webpage as they become available.

Above, board members participate in the NOSB April 2020 virtual meeting via Zoom. Photo: USDA