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The following is a summary of the discussions conducted and the decisions made at the November 2009 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting in Washington, D.C. A complete transcript of this meeting should be posted on the National Organic Program (NOP) web site over the next month or so. Revised NOSB recommendations should be available in a month from NOSB Executive Director Valerie Frances.
Report from Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of NOP
Standing before a crowded room of organic stakeholders, Miles McEvoy delivered his first-ever address to the NOSB as the Deputy Administrator of AMS for the National Organic Program (NOP). He began this address by outlining what he perceives to be the founding principles behind NOP. These principles include the need to collaborate with the organic industry, the development of clear and consistent rules to enable improved compliance, openness and transparency in the rule-making process, and a commitment to uphold high standards while employing sensible practices. As he noted, it is important to set the bar high for organic but also to remember that “regulations can kill us” if they eliminate organic producers’ and handlers’ ability to remain in business.
The next section of McEvoy’s address focused on his priorities for NOP in the coming months. At the top of his list, McEvoy said, is the publication of the access to pasture final rule. He also intends to implement a peer review process (likely involving the National Institute of Standards and Technology) to ensure that the NOP accreditation system is functioning properly and effectively. Additionally, McEvoy made clear that he plans to revise and update the NOP web site to make it more user-friendly. He also identified as priorities hiring more regulation, compliance, and training staff, implementing NOSB recommendations, and developing a program manual that provides guidance on interpreting rules made by NOP. McEvoy also stated that he plans to have NOP create a matrix to assign penalties associated with various false labeling claims.
McEvoy outlined each of these priorities in greater detail. For example, he explained that as part of his plan to crack down on false labeling claims, he intends to have NOP call for more unannounced inspections and the use of pesticide residue sampling to ensure the integrity of the organic system. Additionally, he intends to support a risk-based assessment system, whereby operations with a greater risk of compliance failures (i.e., split operations) will come under the greatest scrutiny.
McEvoy also elaborated on his intention to expand NOP’s staffing capacity. Plans are to grow the program from 16 to 31 staff people, with three new hires focused on equivalency, six on standards, and several on NOP appeals. “With these additional resources, it should be much easier for us to implement NOSB recommendations and keep things moving forward,” he noted.
Additional resources will also be dedicated to developing improved training materials, McEvoy said. He hopes that under his direction, NOP will continue to develop online modules, making it easier for accredited certifying agents to access the informational resources they need. He also intends NOP to offer on-site training sessions at several domestic and international trade shows in 2010.
McEvoy then shifted his attention to international equivalency. He indicated that four recognition agreements have been assessed, and that similar agreements with Denmark and Israel are awaiting review. He intends to keep existing equivalency agreements moving forward, and that NOP has received several requests from other countries expressing interest in negotiating equivalency. According to McEvoy, “Possibilities for equivalency are widespread right now. There is even the possibility of things moving forward with the European Union.”
Switching gears, McEvoy discussed plans to strengthen NOP’s enforcement efforts. He expressed his desire to establish a standard operating procedure to handle complaints, provide clearer enforcement guidelines and branch management systems, implement stricter compliance monitoring, and continue training staff on enforcement standards and procedures.
McEvoy also highlighted the need to develop priorities around existing NOSB recommendations. He proposed division of these recommendations into three categories?standards and rule-making, materials, and policy and guidance documents not requiring rule-making?within which priorities could be established. Additionally, McEvoy expressed his intention to work with other government agencies (i.e., FDA, AMS Science and Technology) to determine next steps in responding to this revised priorities list.
In other announcements, McEvoy stated his desire to host NOSB meetings around the United States, rather than always in Washington, DC. He also indicated that products labeled "made with" organic ingredients may no longer have the word "organic" in their brand names. (NOP is currently requesting input from certifiers on this issue, with the intention to prohibit the practice.) Additionally, he stated that OMRI is the best reference on allowed materials, and that there should be only one list of such materials to avoid the inconsistency that currently results from the existence and use of multiple lists. He also expressed his hope that the access to pasture final rule will be published by the end of this year.
In closing, McEvoy offered a quote from Wendell Berry likening an organic farm to a natural system in both its structure and its “benign effect” on the environment.
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) - Report Fall 2009
RESUMEN EJECUTIVO
IntroductionThe following is a summary of the discussions conducted and the decisions made at the November 2009 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting in Washington, D.C. A complete transcript of this meeting should be posted on the National Organic Program (NOP) web site over the next month or so. Revised NOSB recommendations should be available in a month from NOSB Executive Director Valerie Frances.
Report from Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of NOP
Standing before a crowded room of organic stakeholders, Miles McEvoy delivered his first-ever address to the NOSB as the Deputy Administrator of AMS for the National Organic Program (NOP). He began this address by outlining what he perceives to be the founding principles behind NOP. These principles include the need to collaborate with the organic industry, the development of clear and consistent rules to enable improved compliance, openness and transparency in the rule-making process, and a commitment to uphold high standards while employing sensible practices. As he noted, it is important to set the bar high for organic but also to remember that “regulations can kill us” if they eliminate organic producers’ and handlers’ ability to remain in business.
The next section of McEvoy’s address focused on his priorities for NOP in the coming months. At the top of his list, McEvoy said, is the publication of the access to pasture final rule. He also intends to implement a peer review process (likely involving the National Institute of Standards and Technology) to ensure that the NOP accreditation system is functioning properly and effectively. Additionally, McEvoy made clear that he plans to revise and update the NOP web site to make it more user-friendly. He also identified as priorities hiring more regulation, compliance, and training staff, implementing NOSB recommendations, and developing a program manual that provides guidance on interpreting rules made by NOP. McEvoy also stated that he plans to have NOP create a matrix to assign penalties associated with various false labeling claims.
McEvoy outlined each of these priorities in greater detail. For example, he explained that as part of his plan to crack down on false labeling claims, he intends to have NOP call for more unannounced inspections and the use of pesticide residue sampling to ensure the integrity of the organic system. Additionally, he intends to support a risk-based assessment system, whereby operations with a greater risk of compliance failures (i.e., split operations) will come under the greatest scrutiny.
McEvoy also elaborated on his intention to expand NOP’s staffing capacity. Plans are to grow the program from 16 to 31 staff people, with three new hires focused on equivalency, six on standards, and several on NOP appeals. “With these additional resources, it should be much easier for us to implement NOSB recommendations and keep things moving forward,” he noted.
Additional resources will also be dedicated to developing improved training materials, McEvoy said. He hopes that under his direction, NOP will continue to develop online modules, making it easier for accredited certifying agents to access the informational resources they need. He also intends NOP to offer on-site training sessions at several domestic and international trade shows in 2010.
McEvoy then shifted his attention to international equivalency. He indicated that four recognition agreements have been assessed, and that similar agreements with Denmark and Israel are awaiting review. He intends to keep existing equivalency agreements moving forward, and that NOP has received several requests from other countries expressing interest in negotiating equivalency. According to McEvoy, “Possibilities for equivalency are widespread right now. There is even the possibility of things moving forward with the European Union.”
Switching gears, McEvoy discussed plans to strengthen NOP’s enforcement efforts. He expressed his desire to establish a standard operating procedure to handle complaints, provide clearer enforcement guidelines and branch management systems, implement stricter compliance monitoring, and continue training staff on enforcement standards and procedures.
McEvoy also highlighted the need to develop priorities around existing NOSB recommendations. He proposed division of these recommendations into three categories?standards and rule-making, materials, and policy and guidance documents not requiring rule-making?within which priorities could be established. Additionally, McEvoy expressed his intention to work with other government agencies (i.e., FDA, AMS Science and Technology) to determine next steps in responding to this revised priorities list.
In other announcements, McEvoy stated his desire to host NOSB meetings around the United States, rather than always in Washington, DC. He also indicated that products labeled "made with" organic ingredients may no longer have the word "organic" in their brand names. (NOP is currently requesting input from certifiers on this issue, with the intention to prohibit the practice.) Additionally, he stated that OMRI is the best reference on allowed materials, and that there should be only one list of such materials to avoid the inconsistency that currently results from the existence and use of multiple lists. He also expressed his hope that the access to pasture final rule will be published by the end of this year.
In closing, McEvoy offered a quote from Wendell Berry likening an organic farm to a natural system in both its structure and its “benign effect” on the environment.