36-5 |
Substances allowed for use in organic production |
D. E. CARTER, National Bison Association, 1400 W. 122nd Ave., Ste. 106, Westminster, CO 80234 The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, part of the 1990 Farm Bill, authorized the Secretary of Agriculture in to appoint a 15-member National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The board's main mission is to assist the Secretary in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production which is often referred to as the National List of materials allowed for use in organic production. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on other aspects of implementing the National Organic Program within the USDA. The current board is comprised of four farmers/growers, two handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public interest advocates, three environmentalists, and one certifying agent who sit on various committees. Members come from all four U.S. regions. The regulation of non-organic synthetic and nonsynthetic agricultural and non-agricultural materials allowed and prohibited in organic production will be discussed. The process for the petition for use and the evaluation of materials will be described with specific examples in crop production, livestock production and food processing materials.
Session 36, Organic foods in the post USDA final rule era
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