The Best Western Inn of Chicago

162 East Ohio Street

Chicago, IL

The Buckingham Meeting Room

Remarks: Mark King, Chairperson

8:15 a.m. Approval of October 2003 Meeting Minutes

Review of Executive Committee Conference Call Minutes

8:30 a.m. Public Comment

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Public Comment

11:30 a.m. NOP Comments

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. Presentation of Committee Discussion Items

Presentation of the current NOSB material process from petition to evaluation of material by the NOSB and inclusion on the National List (if approved).

Sunset Provision Report

7 U.S.C. 6518(e) requires that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) review each substance on the National List within 5 years. Materials Committee will provide an update on the review process.

Accreditation, Certification, and Compliance Committee -- Andrea Caroe

Compliance Procedures for Noncompliances -- Recommendation

The NOSB recommends that the NOP post definitions of "minor noncompliance," "Noncompliance," and "organic integrity" along with noncompliance notification procedures and examples of noncompliance as guidance to ACAs.

Crops Committee , Nancy Ostiguy

Handling Committee, Kevin O'Rell

Livestock Committee -- George Siemon

Policy Development Committee, Dave Carter

This is primarily housekeeping issues. Includes addition of language regarding confidentiality and substitution of new materials approval forms and procedures.

The NOSB has been asked to assist the National Organic Program by obtaining public input and issuing a recommendation on the following question: What are the factors (reasons, issues, parameters, strictures, limitations) and constraints that the National Organic Standards Board should use to determine a substance's compatibility with a system of sustainable agriculture and its consistency with organic farming and handling? The committee will present a recommendation based upon an initial draft that was adopted by the board in October 2003 and revised following a public comment period that ended November 27, 2003.

2:00 p.m. Presentation of Materials Recommendations (with discussion)

Crops Committee: Nancy Ostiguy

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Handling Committee: Kevin O'Rell

Livestock Committee: George Siemon

5:00 p.m. Recess