Standards & Policy Updates

Stay tuned to this page for updates to NOP publications, NOSB meeting announcements, and PCO policy updates. To receive updates directly from the NOP, be an Organic Insider!

 

• May 10, 2013: NOSB Publishes Final Recommendations
  • Transcripts and committee recommendations from the most recent NOSB Meeting (April 9-11 in Portland, OR) are now available.

 

• April 8, 2013: NOP Publishes Instruction on Technical Assistance (NOP 2614) that certifying agents and inspectors may provide to organic producers and handlers.

 

• April 8, 2013: NOP Publishes Instruction on Information Submission Requirements for Certifying Agents (NOP 2024) that specifies the information that certifying agents must submit to the NOP to maintain accreditation.
  

 

• April 2, 2013: NOP Publishes Draft Guidance on Classification of Materials (NOP 5033) and Materials for Organic Crop Production (NOP5034)
  • The Classification of Materials Draft Guidance also includes a Synthetic/Non-Synthetic Decision Tree and a Agricultural/Non-Agricultural Decision Tree.
  • The Materials for Organic Crop Production Draft Guidance also includes a List of Permitted Materials for Organic Crop Production and a List of Prohibited Materials for Organic Crop Production.
  • Comments on these draft guidances are due June 3, 2013.

 

• March 1, 2013: NOP Publishes Guidance on Seeds, Annual Seedlings, and Planting Stock in Organic Crop Production
  • This final guidance document (NOP 5029) clarifies how these materials may be sourced, treated, and which records are necessary.

 

• March 1, 2013: NOP Publishes Guidance on Use of Kelp in Organic Livestock Feed
  • This final guidance document (NOP 5027) clarifies that any kelp used in organic livestock feed must be certified organic. A phase-in period until March 4, 2014 will allow operations that are not currently in compliance with this requirement to update their organic system plans and source organic kelp.

 

• March 1, 2013: NOP Publishes Guidance on Evaluating Allowed Ingredients and Sources of Vitamins and Minerals for Organic Livestock Feed
  • This final guidance document (NOP 5030) clarifies which ingredients may be used in organic livestock feed.

 

• March 1, 2013: NOP Publishes Instructions for Responding to Results from Pesticide Residue Testing
  • This instruction document (NOP 2613) outlines what certifying agents should do if they detect a pesticide residue on an agricultural product.

 

• February 27, 2013: NOP Published Response to October 2012 NOSB Recommendations

 

• February 5, 2013 – NOP Publishes Proposed Rule to Amend National List (Crops and Processing)
  • Affected materials include peracetic acid, potassium hydroxide, silicon dioxide, beta-carotene extract color, and annato extract color. Comments due March 7, 2013.

 

•  February 1, 2013 – NOP Publishes Policy Memo on Cell Fusion Techniques Used in Seed Production
  • This memo addresses when cell fusion is considered an excluded method and thus prohibited in organic production and handling.

   

• January 1, 2013 – NOP Publishes Revised Policy Memo on the Placement of the “Certified Organic By ***” Statement
  • This memo extends the transition period regarding the placement of the “certified organic by ***” statement on product labels until January 1, 2016.

 

• December 10, 2012 – NOP updated Policy Memo on Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages with Organic References to correct the non-working links.

 

•  November 15, 2012: NOSB Publishes Final Recommendations
  • Transcripts and committee recommendations from the most recent NOSB meeting (October 2012 in Providence RI) are now available.

 

• November 9, 2012: NOP Publishes Final Rule on Periodic Residue Testing
  • This final rule requires organic certifying agents to test samples from at least 5 percent of the operations they certify on an annual basis, beginning January 1, 2013. Click here to download the Q & A for consumers.

   

• November 2, 2012 - USDA expands temporary variance for ruminant livestock producers
  • The USDA grants a second temporary variance for ruminant livestock producers in counties contiguous to counties declared as natural disaster areas by the Secretary of Agriculture.

 

• September 28, 2012: NOP Publishes Response to May 2012 NOSB Recommendations
  • This memorandum responds to recommendations made at the May 22 to 25, 2012 business meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

• September 27, 2012: NOP Publishes Interim Rule on Vitamins and Minerals in Organic Products
  • This rule renews, without change, the listing of nutrient and minerals on the National List at 205.605(b). Additional rule-making based on a proposed rule published on April 29, 2011 is forthcoming. The NOP is accepting public comments on this interim rule until December 26, 2012. Submit comments.

 

• September 27, 2012: NOP Updates Responsibilities of Certified Operations Changing Certifiying Agents
  • NOP has made minor edits to this instruction for certifying agents

 

• September 19, 2012: NOP Publishes Amendment to National List (Livestock)
  • This final rule reduces the maximum levels of synthetic methionine allowed in organic poultry production after October 1, 2012. This action also corrects the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers for the allowable forms of methionine.

 

• September 12, 2012: NOP Release Notice on use of Sodium (Chilean) Nitrate
  • Pending additional rule-making, operators using sodium nitrate after October 21, 2012 shall use it in a manner that maintains or improves the natural resources of the operation, including soil and water quality, and comply with crop nutrient and soil fertility requirements.

 

• September 12, 2012: NOP Publishes Additions the Program Handbook
  • NOP 2609: Unannounced Inspections
  • NOP 2612: Recommended Penalties for Violations of Specific Regulatory Requirements  (update 4/1/2013: this document has been archived and will be updated later this year)
  • NOP 2612-1: Penalty Matrix by Violation Category (update 4/1/2013: this document has been archived and will be updated later this year)
  • PM 12-1: Production and Certification of Aquatic Plants
  • PM 12-2: Placement of Certified Organic by *** Statement

   

• August 9, 2012 – USDA grants temporary variance for ruminant livestock producers
  • Due to severe drought, the Secretary of Agriculture has designated approximately 1,500 U.S. counties as natural disaster areas. The USDA grants a temporary variance for ruminant livestock producers in these counties from Sections 205.237(c) and 205.240 of the USDA organic regulations with additional restrictions for the remainder of 2012.

 

• August 3, 2012: NOP Publishes Final Rule on Tetracycline, Formic Acid, Attapulgite
  • Apple and pear producers may continue to use tetracycline until October 21, 2014 to control fire blight. Honey producers now have the option of using formic acid as a means of controlling varroa and tracheal mites in organic honeybee operations. Processors now have the option of using attapulgite, a non-synthetic processing aid, for purification of plant and animal oils.

 

• June 28, 2012: NOP Publishes Notice of Implementation Period for Pectin
  • This final rule allows additional time for operations to reformulate organic products containing pectin. After October 21, 2012, only non-amidated, non-organic pectin may be used in organic processing if organic pectin is not commercially available.

 

• June 14, 2012: NOP Publishes Amendments to the National List (Crops, Livestock, Processing)
  • This final rule renews over 200 listings on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances that were scheduled to expire this year (Sunset 2012 Materials). This rule also makes changes to the listings for pectin, iodine, chlorine, lignin sulfonate, colors, streptomycin, yeast, sulfur dioxide (smoke bombs), and hops. Click here to download the Sunset 2012 Q & A.

 

• May 16, 2012: NOP Publishes Amendments to the National List (Livestock)
  • This final rule adds fenbendazole and moxidectin to National List for use as parasiticides in organic livestock production.

 

• March 12, 2012: NOP Publishes Amendments to National List (Crops and Processing)
  • This final rule adds microcrystalline cheese wax, acidified sodium chlorite, dried orange pulp, and Pacific kombu seaweed to the National List. It also amends the listing for lecithin. Click here to download the Lecithin Q & A.

 

• February 6, 2012: NOP Publishes Proposed Rule for Methionine in Poultry Production
  • This proposed rule would reduce the maximum levels of synthetic methionine allowed in organic poultry production after October 1, 2012.

 

• February 3, 2012: NOP Publishes Draft Guidance on Handling Bulk, Bulk Unpackaged Organic Products
  • This draft guidance document clarifies the certification requirements for handlers of unpackaged organic bulk commodities and specifies that handlers of bulk organic products – including grain, soybeans, hay, milk and livestock – must be certified or be covered under another operation’s organic certification.

 

• February 1, 2012: NOP Publishes Proposed Rule for Sunset 2012
  • This proposed rule would renew over 200 listings on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances that were scheduled to expire this year (Sunset 2012 Materials). This proposed rule would also makes changes to the listings for chlorine, lignin sulfonate, streptomycin, yeast, hops, and pectin.

 

• January 12, 2012: NOP Publishes Proposed Rule for Vitamins and Minerals in Organic Products
  • This proposed rule would amend the listing of nutrient and minerals on the National List for use in organic processed products. Click here to download the Vitamins and Minerals Q & A.

If you cannot download these documents, they are also available by request from PCO (814)-422-0251 or pco@paorganic.org