Consolidation in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARDREPORT ON THENOSB MEETINGOCTOBER 22–24, 2003By Zea SonnabendTHE FALL MEETING OF THE NOSBfocused on the materials reviewprocess. The board has the responsibilityto make recommendations regardingmaterials used in organic productionsystems and handling based on criteria thatare set out in the Organic Foods ProductionAct. To make those recommendations theboard receives petitions for substances tobe added to the National List and thensends those petitions to be reviewed by aTechnical Advisory Panel (TAP), which isadministered by a contractor assigned bythe NOP.Many weaknesses have beenbrought to light in the currentprocess and so the board spent thewhole meeting reviewing the currentsystem and exploring ways ofimproving it. The NOP has beenplagued in the past by poor documentationof the materials decisions,due to poor minute taking,lax policies around the voting procedure,and incomplete informationfrom the TAP reviews. The NOPstated that it is very important forthem to have proper documentationand justification of the decisions sothat they are not challenged later byspecial interests. To meet theirrequirements we used new templatesdeveloped by the NOP toevaluate all of the materials.The NOSB prepared a workingdraft of the “Compatibility/Consistency with a System ofSustainable Agriculture/OrganicProduction”, which was postedon the NOP website after themeeting. The objective was todevelop criteria that would beevaluated during the TAP review processto determine if a particular substance iscompatible with sustainable agricultureand organic production systems. Thisdocument is below. The NOSB also usedsome new form templates that the NOPdeveloped to re-evaluate all of the materialsthat were voted on during their lastmeeting.National Organic Standard Board WorkingDraft: Compatibility With Organic Productionand Handling, Adopted October 24,2003.In order to determine if a substance, itsuse, and manufacture are compatible witha system of sustainable agriculture and consistentwith organic farming and handling,and in consideration of the NOSB Principlesof Organic Production and Handling,the following factors are to be considered,when applicable:Crop production is enhanced by routine useof fine-grade high quality gypsumGood Stuff Gypsum Guaranteed Analysis…100% Calcium Sulfate“Certified organic”There are over 30 known benefits to plantsand soils by applying high analysisArt Wilson Company Gypsum100% Good Stuff Gypsum is SUPERIORto all other gypsum products…no brag, just fact!Get Maximum Economic Yieldfor your MoneyTo order contact your fertilizer dealer.For more information about100% Good Stuff Gypsum call toll free:1-888-GYP-MINE (497-6463)www.awgypsum.coma) Does the substance promote plant andanimal health by enhancing soil physical,chemical, or biological properties?b) Does the substance encourage andenhance preventative management?c) Does the substance promote the use ofrenewable resources and recycling, andreduce dependency on external inputs?d) Does the substance have a positive influenceon the health, natural behavior, andwelfare of animals?e) Does the substance satisfy consumerexpectations regarding the authenticityand integrity of organic products?f) Does the substance promote theeconomic viability of organic farmoperations?g) Is the substance mined, manufactured,or produced through reliance on childlabor or any violations of InternationalLabor Organization (ILO) conventions?h) Is use of the substance consistentwith other listed uses of thesubstance?i) Is the substance consistent withother substances historicallyallowed or disallowed in organicproduction and handling?j) What are the experiences inforeign markets with use of thesubstance?k) Is the substance compatiblewith the Precautionary Principle?i.e. when a substance, its use, andmanufacture raise concerns, precautionarymeasures should betaken when scientific data is notfully established. The proponentof a substance should bear theburden of proof to demonstratecompatibility.Page 38CCOF Magazine