Update from Fall NOSB Meeting:
Multisite Certification, Aquaculture, Pet Food and More

By Jennifer Rose

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) covered quite a bit of territory at its Fall Meeting this past November in Washington D.C., resulting in several long-awaited recommendations on highly debated issues. Among the most high-profile items covered was multisite certification. After much discussion and debate, the board voted to accept this recommendation, which established a) conditions under which a group can collectively work as a single operation and b) criteria for how much of each operation must be inspected each year. The recommendation will now go to the National Organic Program (NOP) for review.

A similarly important topic covered was organic aquaculture. For the past three years, NOSB has worked with the Aquaculture Working Group of its Aquatic Animals Task Force to develop organic aquaculture standards. Together, the groups developed a recommendation requiring that: wild-caught fish used in organic fish feed must be environmentally responsible; underwater electronic sound devices are prohibited; there must not be significant environmental changes around areas in which net pens are in use; net pens must not be placed in migratory routes; and only local species are permitted for use in net pens. The NOSB accepted this recommendation as well, which will be passed onto NOP for review.

Organic pet food also emerged as a hot topic. Since 2005, when a Task Force was first convened to discuss the subject of organic pet food, efforts have been made to determine which aspects of the existing organic regulations pertain to pet foods, as well as what substances not permitted in these regulations may need to be added to the National List in order to meet pets’ particular nutritional needs. In its 2008 recommendation, NOSB’s Handling Committee proposed that the product composition requirements for organic pet food be similar to those for livestock, and that labeling categories for organic pet food be the same as for processed human food. Additionally, the committee proposed that eligible label claims for organic pet food match the requirements for human food and that slaughter by-products be permitted for use in organic pet food. With minor amendments, NOSB voted to accept these recommendations and will send them to NOP to review.

Additional topics covered at the November meeting included recommendations on the procedure to handle technical reviews, the commercial availability of organic seed, and guidelines for the use of packaging and processing aids in products labeled and sold as “100 percent organic.” There were also several materials petitioned to be added to the National List. The current board has noted that they are not in favor of adding synthetics to the National List; thus, sorbitol octanoate for insect control and ethylene for ripening of pears were not approved. Pelargonic acid, ammonium nonanoate, chlorella powder, dumontiacae, buck hull powder and black pepper extract were also rejected by the NOSB. Two materials were approved for addition to the National List: dried orange pulp was added to section 606 (nonorganic agricultural ingredients subject to commercial availability) and tetracyline was approved for fire blight control.

The NOSB wrapped up its three-day meeting with a discussion of its work plans for the next meeting. Topics that may be covered at the Spring Meeting include:

• Petitions to remove bleached lecithin from National List Section 605 and liquid lecithin from 606

• Definitions of agricultural and non-agricultural; guidance on natural flavors

• Animal husbandry/welfare

• Criteria for retail certification

• Mushroom standards

• Biodiversity

To learn more about the NOSB’s work plans and read a complete transcript of the entire November 2008 meeting, visit the NOSB website at www.ams.usda.gov/nosb.

Jennifer Rose is the new media manager and staff writer for the Organic Trade Association.

First-Ever Organic and Non-GMO Project Joint Inspections Judged a Success
After nearly two years of collaborative development by stakeholders in all sectors of the organic and natural products industry, the Non-GMO Project’s Product Verification Program is up and running, with over 350 products already enrolled. Recently, organic inspectors with Quality Assurance International (QAI) completed the first three on-site inspections for the Non-GMO Project’s Product Verification Program, with more inspections scheduled to take place soon. The inspections occurred in conjunction with the participating companies’ annual organic inspections, reducing costs and labor. R.W. Garcia, SK Food, and WholeSoy & Co. were the first companies to go through these joint inspections.

According to Allan Perkins of R.W. Garcia, the joint inspections offer “a big time- and cost-saving way to participate. You can achieve both certifications with one auditor and one audit. The organic and Non-GMO Project audits fit well together.” Aaron Skyberg of SK Foods agrees, saying, “We were very pleased to be able to combine our organic and non-GMO verification inspections.” And Ted Nordquist, founder and CEO of WholeSoy & Co., adds that he thinks combining the inspections is “an excellent idea, and our suppliers feel the same way.”

The onsite audit is the second step in the Project’s two-step verification process. Prior to inspection, all companies undergo a document-based review of GMO avoidance practices like traceability, segregation, and testing at critical control points. This information is compared with the consensus-based Non-GMO Project Standard in order to assess compliance.

A “Non-GMO Project Verified Seal” will begin appearing on retail packages beginning in October 2009. In the meantime, a list of participating companies and the 350+ enrolled products can be found on the Project’s website: www.nongmoproject.org.

NOP Developments
The National Organic Program (NOP) is developing web-based training modules for accredited certifying agents that will be available to the public. The web-based training modules will serve as the quality manual for every section of the NOP Rule. The labeling training module will be first to be released as a pilot for feedback followed by guidance about the requirements of Organic System Plans.

In addition, the NOP has expanded to a staff of 15 with six additional hires, including a director of compliance and enforcement. Also, Barbara Robinson, NOP director, announced that she plans to retire by 2010 and that Richard Matthews is currently scheduled to retire on January 2, 2009. Jim Link has been named as acting administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) until a new Administrator is named and in place in January 2009.