Your Comments Needed: National List Too Long to Review Thoroughly
By law, The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) must review every substance on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) every five years. This is to ensure that each material still meets the criteria stated in the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA, of the 1990 Farm Bill).
Since the organic regulations were not fully implemented until 2002, the 2017 Sunset Materials up for discussion at this year’s NOSB meetings includes the majority of materials on the National List (materials are reviewed 2 years in advance of their sunset date).
March 12, 2015 | Source: The Cornucopia Institute | by
By law, The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) must review every substance on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) every five years. This is to ensure that each material still meets the criteria stated in the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA, of the 1990 Farm Bill).
Since the organic regulations were not fully implemented until 2002, the 2017 Sunset Materials up for discussion at this year’s NOSB meetings includes the majority of materials on the National List (materials are reviewed 2 years in advance of their sunset date). This means over 200 materials are up for review at the upcoming Spring and Fall NOSB meetings!
As only a small percentage of materials will be given an updated technical review, which would ensure the materials meet up to date rigorous scientific standards of safety and essentiality, it is unlikely that many of these materials will be given the proper review required.