National Organic Standards Board is the committee that works with USDA
to decide on changes and how to implement the USDA organic
certification process. As I promised, when these events are happening
and there is an opportunity for you to share your perspective I would
share them with you, so here is a chance for you to give them your
thoughts.
Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
For information on organic agriculture production please visit:
http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
P Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: Liana Hoodes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 3:38 PM
To: Vicki Morrone
Subject: NOSB pre-Meeting Sunday May 3, 2009 Washington, DC
NOC
logo#1<http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs038/1101589773259/img/50.j
pg?a=1102538793667> National Organic Coalition
www.NationalOrganicCoalition.org
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzww1b4Sqr-e
FpJXmikY3zemI0TOciMYeWxytcbszT1MdXNRbIpyvDGMLGJVvLJw6Ut8DCouJ48gNyuhb7D2
vDxDzZuAc-rnoHEo3JpA5D5uvawKE162ZV4v>
Dear Vicki,
Pre- NOSB Meeting, Sunday May 3, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOON to 6:30 pm, Washington, DC -- POST LUNCH (snacks will be provided)
please RSVP!
Sponsored by National Organic Coalition
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzyah3x4P5x5
VrytP0-z_GIsnJQNr_AxaA-ov8aXNoCG9JpkTFNNt2ZihEZe9cLTukpaCI8c8Q_jZJCTDH_F
AAEp-LDnxNpl-Ty8kWfFwJvWLDHomYjXx2v0> and National Sustainable
Agriculture Coalition
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzxkO3d7k56R
W2_wWD4meIDLJlpGSSiZPvpaR1F08Lyxhug69qSJ7C0SO_bRgLAZDfjbBEF2k5938VmX8WvB
afBNinh7Ecys8A7AYhsM5fCyu-2B6CvUQhQbEznqmgl2QGc=>
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is meeting Monday May 4
through Wednesday May 6, 2009, so we will once again hold our pre-NOSB
meeting on the day before -- Sunday, May 3.
Location: WASHINGTON PLAZA HOTEL
(same hotel as NOSB meeting)
10 Thomas Circle, Washington DC 20005 202-842-1300
DRAFT TOPICS --
I. Farm Bill Implementation Update
II. 2010 Appropriations
III. "Pasture" Rule and Origin of Livestock Rule??
IV. NOSB ISSUES:
Aquaculture bivalves
Retail Certification and ICS
Personal Care products
Biodiversity Issues
Organic Seeds Requirement
Definitions of Ag/NonAg; Synthetic/Non-Synthetic
Nanotech
Materials
NOSB 2010 nominations
V. SCS label update
VI. NOAP Update
VII. Food Safety
FOR FULL NOSB MEETING AGENDA ( and link to committee documents) go to:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?&template=Templ
ateN&navID=NationalOrganicProgram&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=Ma
y2009Agenda&description=NOSB%20May%202009%20Agenda&acct=nosb
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzxoZBxT6ogU
YyeiwynVqqz3VsdVz_UsQPMVnXFjqa_hKkmvoG_3GffMOf0tw7gVg1M7DjyLXyscZDN1-TF-
MSREJoXA5l80oQyAyhGx40iPEivsVfpPJ1z2EsVn9MfKUS7yip6tCeu_QLtPJSOi3F6T-zNG
4PLBMGOAM1EQpqmrceQ-snq8TyVkYzvvjglsz4gE7Vb3K3jIFDZTAKX5GTp0DPFDJRn1N8M8
Ty4G_Ouc7dEyNcde5Pckni1cOqxin-Xu2_H_7Kk0S15VsP7OJuIXk1MCEBnz_jIpk-vOnzI_
y-TrmvweExhjHb8dtZtQ7GaJQka8qgwpKSeZf-6nrfaN9VkAqUHkhiyh3REYtSpxqfE0B03H
GD-aX_QriB8onQCOsCjHLj3tsQ==>
Take Action Today to Support Organic Biodiversity Conservation --
See Alert below
** In order to make sure there are enough chairs,
Please RSVP to: Liana Hoodes ([log in to unmask]) **
For Hotel Rooms:
The Washington Plaza Hotel
10 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-842-1300
From the Wild Farm Alliance: www.wildfarmallliance.org
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzx43nugJcF7
NBxrwrCaBbYKAoV-HKfJcic4iZa3QVzgATf6_9ezbsK4FlT1kD5kk7VJ0XsddL7ZC829qToN
T4y2cgtCx0pzt6LsIwGrd9Pbeg==>
Take Action Today to Support Organic Biodiversity Conservation
Send comments to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) before
Monday April 20, 2009 to let them know that you support biodiversity
conservation within organic agriculture.
Use text from the sample letter or submit your own comments via this
website:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d
=AMS-TM-09-0014
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzzHObJGftxf
qgZdWPRtLNEFqe8BtgK1pcggy-KQqcOupeaKy6S-TGiXCeI5LI3HfzCH4jTwxoY_Dj0p11wm
smSxQVLHRroNe3vV2q2NG1i4jAsGxcJxp4zkC8rfXpFAZ4_iYIeVJhGj2Z5FmQHsjVp1JeJZ
D9zmnClD0GZtCaVeoNb1coKvJausEOlDwf1F0hwzYI6tWYo37A==>
Once there, look for the "Notice of Meeting of the NOSB" under the dark
blue bar and click the image beneath "Add Comments."
For further information, read the discussion on recommendations for
strengthening biodiversity conservation within organics written by joint
committees of the National Organic Standards Board:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5075826&acct=no
sb
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102538793667&s=2732&e=001z0K6nOYFNzy9pId0BGJW
XuN3S8rc5uFt5d5lGFI5VjlM7taCOj6wj9Szb2bU7BDpxdnv7T5-gMfN5dJO_cYc8TxPJPds
ATIWkg3bzgHzjZmmiC0JbjauoqycrIftwYVz57R8XwtNZBDjd1rIMGJZcySoF7jr48xIUkMb
4M087zo3teew3p2yG62W02f-Ulqqm7w41M3CZ84=>
Sample Letter
----Your Letterhead----
<Date>
Jeff Moyer
Chairman of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
Re: Implementation of Biodiversity Conservation in Organic Agriculture
Systems
Dear Chairman Moyer,
<Your Organization> is writing to encourage the NOSB to adopt
recommendations that will address biodiversity conservation within the
National Organic Program (NOP) rule. Maintaining healthy, biologically
diverse farms is essential for the long-term sustainability of our food
system and ecosystem.
<Your Organization's Mission and how strengthening biodiversity
conservation in the rule relates to your work.>
In 2004 and 2005, the NOSB issued guidance statements regarding
biodiversity conservation. The current recommendations of its Joint
Crops and Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee are
reasonable steps that build on these earlier assertions and include:
1) Biodiversity be considered when reviewing materials for use on
organic farms,
2) Biodiversity conservation be more fully developed and implemented
in the Organic System Plan (OSP) by:
a) Producers outlining their strategy for biodiversity conservation in
their OSP,
b) Inspectors being trained in biodiversity conservation,
c) Certifiers verifying producer's efforts to address the NOP's
requirements for biodiversity, and
d) NOP emphasizing biodiversity conservation in its trainings and
revising its checklist used to audit certifiers so that questions about
the NOP's biodiversity standards are in every audit.
Incorporating biodiversity into the Materials Review process will ensure
that no harm comes to organisms benefiting the farm, such as native
pollinators. Implementing the requirement for organic farmers to include
biodiversity conservation in their OSPs, will help them to prioritize
their plans and will ensure improvement of their practices over time.
Educating organic inspectors about conservation will result in
consistent interpretation, and requiring certifiers to verify that their
producers are conserving biodiversity will mean that farmers across the
country will all be treated equally. As well, once the NOP begins
checking that all organic certifiers are inspecting for biodiversity
conservation, the rule will be uniformly implemented.
The organic community will benefit from improved conservation efforts.
Farmers who conserve habitat will see an increase in native predatory
and parasitic insects, predatory birds, and pollinators. The dependence
on artificial pest control means will be reduced, as will the need for
purchasing honeybee services. Native vegetation which protects soil from
erosion and acts as filters for pathogen and nutrient pollutants, will
help to meet community needs of food safety and clean water
requirements. By maintaining and restoring wildlife corridors through
the farm, rodent-eating predators will help to keep pests in check,
native species populations will stay viable, and wild nature will
benefit. Consumers will profit from conservation because they care about
nature and do not want to have their children grow up in a world devoid
of biodiversity. Additionally, implementing the recommendations will
help maintain the integrity of the organic label and honor consumer
confidence in its meaning.
We believe it is crucial for the organic farmers, inspectors,
certifiers, the NOSB and the NOP to each do their part to ensure that
biodiversity conservation is fully developed and implemented. By
comprehensively handling the issue, the organic community throughout the
country will be become more efficient at addressing the intent of the
rule and better equipped to benefit from all that nature provides.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
<Your Name>
<Your Organization>
*******************************
Liana Hoodes
National Organic Action Plan
National Organic Coalition
3540 Route 52
Pine Bush, NY 12566
Phone and Fax: 845-744-2304
www.NationalOrganicCoalition.org
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