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[Stephen Steward <otacon451@gmail.com>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Phillips <michael@herbsandapples.com>
Date: Fri, May 21, 2010 at 5:43 AM
Subject: Organic Materials Review
To: Michael Phillips <michael@groworganicapples.com>

This just came across the radar screen . . . and has big time relevance for organic orchardists. The materials being reviewed include hydrogen peroxide, sulfur, lime sulfur, summer oils, sticky traps, pheromones, solubor, and liquid fish. Your comments are needed pronto! 

 

The Organic Food Production Act, the law that regulates the production and labeling of organic food and fiber in the United States, has a provision which mandates that materials on the list of prohibited natural or approved synthetic items go through a "sunset" process once every five years. This provision states that the National List is not static and that these materials should be reviewed to see if they are still necessary for organic production, or if there has been any new developments, such as a natural alternative or proof that the product is environmentally dangerous and should be removed from the list.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is charged with deciding if the status of these materials should remain the same, or if any should be stricken from the list.

There are 232 materials currently under review in the "crops", "livestock" and "ingredients in processed products" categories. If they are not renewed, they will be removed from the list and not allowed to be used after 2012.

The comment period is scheduled to close May 25, 2010. A lack of comments on a material scheduled to expire is viewed as a reason to remove it from the National List. Therefore, if there is something that you feel is an important tool for your certified operation, comments in continued support of the material are important.

For a list of the materials that will be reviewed for the 2012 sunset and guidelines on submitting comments, interested parties should visit www.regulations.gov and search for AMS-NOP-09-0074.

More information, plus the list of 232 materials scheduled to sunset, can be found online in the Federal Notice or at the links below.

To access lists that separate the 232 materials by type, and indicate what materials the National Organic Standards Board will be discussing at their Spring and Fall meetings, go to the links below.

1. For Crops
2. For Livestock
3. For Handling and Processing

 

 

Makes one wonder if curculios have somehow taken over the government bureaucracy!

Michael

 

 

Michael Phillips

Lost Nation Orchard

859 Lost Nation Road

Groveton, NH 03582

(603) 636-2286

www.GrowOrganicApples.com 

 

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