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AnnouncementMarch 15, 2016



The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is pleased to announce the dates and details for the spring 2016 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting.
 
April 2016 National Organic Standards Board Meeting
 
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), an advisory committee of organic industry and stakeholder representatives, was established by the Organic Foods Production Act. The NOSB recommends whether substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling, assists in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production, and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on other aspects of the organic regulations.
 
Twice a year, the NOSB meets to listen to public comments, discuss specific items pertaining to organic agriculture, and vote on recommendations for the National Organic Program (NOP) to consider. These meetings are an important forum for public comment, and support transparency in the standards development process.
 
The NOSB's next meeting will be held April 25 - 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In addition to receiving public comment at the face-to-face meeting, the NOSB will listen to oral public comments via a webinar on April 19, 2016. The NOSB will address several petitions pertaining to changes to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, and begin its review of 2018 sunset substances. The agenda of topics, current proposals, and instructions about how to participate are available on the NOSB meeting webpage.
 
IMPORTANT DATES:
April 19, 2016, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time - Oral Comment Webinar
To provide public comment at the webinar, you must sign up in advance. You may also just listen to the webinar. You can find instructions on how to do either on the NOSB meeting webpage.      

April 25-27, 2016, Face-to-face meeting
Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
 
Room reservation cutoff date: April 4, 2016
For room reservations, call 1-800-THE-OMNI (1-800-843-6664) or click here for online reservations.
 
Persons interested in providing written comments about the agenda and current proposals must submit their comments via Regulations.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, April 14, 2016.
 
Persons interested in providing oral comments, must reserve a spot by no later than April 14, 2016, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.  Sign up here.
 
Save the date: NOSB Fall 2016 Meeting.
November 16-18, 2016. Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St Louis, MO.
 
About the Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world.

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