Sep 3, 2020

Oct. 1 deadline for commenting at NOSB fall meeting

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is taking public comments for its Fall 2020 Meeting, set for late October.

Written comments and requests for oral comment speaking slots must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST Oct. 1 to be considered during the Fall 2020 Meeting.

A schedule, agenda, and other materials were earlier released. The crops subcommittee will include proposals on paper (in pots and other crop-production aids) and a proposal on wild, native fish in liquid fish products. Discussion documents will also be presented on the use of ammonia extract and biodegradable, and an annotation change to biodegradable, bio-based mulch.

The meeting will be held live online, instead of in-person. The event was had once been planned for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. NOSB’s spring meeting this year was also held online.

The event will run on afternoons (noon – 5 p.m. EST) on the following days:

• Tuesday, October 20.
• Thursday, October 22.
• Wednesday, October 28.
• Thursday, October 29.
• Friday, October 30.

Meeting materials including the public comment registration links can be found at the NOSB Fall 2020 Meeting webpage as they become available, according to the newsletter.

Speakers will be notified by email of the commenting order, and will be called on when it is their turn, according to the NOSB’s newsletter. The public will be able to hear the live comments, board discussion, and see all slides used; however, only board members may ask questions.

All public comment and board deliberations will be recorded, and a transcript of all the meeting days will be posted to the website of the National Organic Program.