The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet this fall in Jacksonville starting on October 31. The NOSB is the organic stakeholder board that advises the USDA on organic policy and regulations. The Board typically meets twice per year and accepts both oral and written testimony from the public. 

In Jacksonville, the Board will complete its review of materials on the National List that are set to sunset in 2019. Other topics under consideration include hydroponics and container production, eliminating incentives to convert native ecosystems to organic production, prohibitions for next generation GE crops and materials, requirements for the use of organic seed, research priorities, and many other issues.

The board will be accepting written comments from the public until October 11. You can submit a comment here. 

The meeting agenda and documents will be available on the USDA website here. You can also sign up to submit oral testimony in person or via webinar by following this link.