FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

USDA - 1303 - National Organic Standards Board - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Organic Standards Board	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1303
Original Establishment Date	11/28/1990	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBHome
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	15
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Advisory Committee Specialist
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	7/5/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Michelle
Date Of Renewal Charter	7/5/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Arsenault
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	7 U.S.C. 6501-6522	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	2029970115
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 205-7808
Specific Establishment Authority*	7 U.S.C. 6501-6522 Organic Food Production Act	Designated Federal Officer Email*	michelle.arsenault@usda.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/28/1990
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The NOSB was created through the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518 (a)) of the OFPA establishes that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) shall assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and advise the Secretary on any other aspects of the implementation of OFPA. Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518 (a-o)) also delineates the Board’s responsibilities that include, but are not limited to (1) developing the proposed National List or proposed amendments to the National List for submission to the Secretary and (2) convening technical advisory panels to provide scientific evaluation of materials for inclusion on the National List. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was established to provide recommendations to the Secretary on implementing the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), which authorizes a national organic program for the production and handling of organically produced foods. NOSB also assists in the development of standards, review of substances to be used in organic production, and advises the Secretary on any other aspects of program implementation. (OFPA 6518(a)). In addition to recommending standards for the production, handling, and labeling of organically produced agricultural products, the NOSB assists in establishing and implementing a program for certifying products as organically produced, through the use of USDA accredited organic certifying agents.
How is membership balanced?*	The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), states that the NOSB is composed of 15 members: four individuals who own or operate an organic farming operation or employees of such individuals; two individuals who own or operate an organic handling operation or employees of such individuals; one individual who owns or operates a retail establishment with significant trade in organic products or employees of such individuals; three individuals with expertise in areas of environmental protection and resource conservation; three individuals who represent public interest or consumer interest groups; one individual with expertise in the fields of toxicology, ecology, or biochemistry; and one individual who is a certifying agent. Committee members serve 5-year terms.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The NOSB meets twice each Fiscal Year in a public forum to complete its statutorily required five-year sunset review of substances on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The Board may also discuss and vote on other proposals, including petitions it received from the organic industry, and other work projects related to organic production and processing. If passed by a 2/3 majority vote, proposals become recommendations to the USDA. Advisory Committee recommendations support the organic industry. During the meetings, the Board completes its OFPA and FACA required duties, including the following: approves minutes from its previous meeting; receives updates from the USDA/National Organic Program; received both oral and written comments from stakeholders; receives updates from each NOSB Subcommittee; hosts expert panels; discusses and votes on proposals; elects new officers; and plans future activities of the Board. At the close of each meeting the NOSB forwards its recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture. The NOSB has six standing subcommittees: Crops; Livestock; Handling; Materials/GMOs; Policy Development; and Compliance, Accreditation and Certification. Subcommittees meet between public NOSB meetings via conference call to develop proposals for the full NOSB’s consideration. Beginning in 2012, as per a recommendation from the NOSB, the notes from the Subcommittee conference calls have been posted online at the following address: http://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/nosb/subcommittees
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The NOSB's continuing role is required by OFPA. OFPA grants sole statutory authority to the NOSB, a citizen advisory board, to make additions or deletions from the National List.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All NOSB meetings are open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	The NOSB was created by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), and since then has supported the USDA National Organic Program and the Organic Industry by making more than 700 recommendations. The Organic Industry is highly supportive of the Advisory Board. NOSB recommendations are available on the AMS website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/nosb/recommendations

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Not Applicable	Grants Review Comment
Number Of Recommendations*	721	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	As of August 2025, the NOSB has made a total of 721 recommendations to the USDA: 228 on organic practice standards, 3391 National List substances, and 154 sunset reviews.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	91.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	As of August 2025, 91% of the NOSB's recommendations have been fully implemented by NOP, as many of them are for Sunset Substances on the National List and other National List changes. According to the NOSB Policy and Procedures Manual, these materials take priority and must be considered by the Board and the NOP. Additionally, the NOSB has sole authority over the National List of Approved and Prohibited substances and therefore is responsible for making sure the recommendations for materials entering sunset are reviewed every 5 years.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	8.70%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	As of August 2025, approximately 8.7% (63) of the NOSB recommendations have not been implemented. Thirty-eight of the 63 recommendations are either in process or are on hold. Organic Standards, guidance documents, and various materials' recommended by the NOSB sometimes require additional review and refinement by the NOP and often times are lengthy, longer-term projects, and therefore have been partially implemented, are in process, or are on-hold until NOP determines how to proceed. Approximately 25 NOSB recommendations were not implemented by the NOP for various reasons, i.e., recommendation may have been outside of the USDA's authority, or found to have economic impacts for the industry.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Organic Insider Newsletter
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Agency provides feedback in the form of new regulations or guidance to certifying agents and certified operations as well as a a post-recommendation response letter to the NOSB.	Narrative Description*	The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) assists in the development of the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, and maintains sole jurisdiction over the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB reviews substances to be used in organic production, including a sunset review every 5 years of substances currently on the National List, and makes recommendations and provides advice to the Secretary on various aspects of implementing the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and the NOP.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$148,000.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$122,160.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$30,000.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$59,340.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$2,300.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$2,300.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$600.00
11. Total Costs	$180,300.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$250,000.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/19/2025 11:07 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	1.00	Est Cost Remarks	Anticipating two in-person meetings for FY 2026.
Cost Remarks	The NOSB meets twice per year. In FY 2025, one of those meetings was held virtually, therefore we did not use our entire appropriation.

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Agriculture Animals Veterinary Medicine Basic Science Basic Sciences Biology Chemistry Materials Research Microbiology Business Industry Civil Rights Equal Opportunity Minorities Women Energy Natural Resources Environment Earth Sciences Environmental Issues Food and Drugs Food and Drugs Land Conservation and Preservation Grazing Areas Land Management and Use Legislation Regulations Rulemaking

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