NOSB Site Update: Final NOSB Recommendations for Methionine (PDF) and Fenbendazole (PDF) have been posted to the NOSB Final Recommendations page and the NOP Petitioned Substances Database.

The NOP-AQSS site has been reformatted and new questions have been added to the following topics:

NOP filed a complaint on June 4 against a certified organic operation, alleging willful violation of OFPA and NOP regulations.

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has approved the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as a competent body to accredit organic certification agencies to certify Japanese organic products according to the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). These determinations allow organic certification organizations in good standing to apply the NOP technical standards to certify operations that produce or handle agricultural products that will be sold, labeled or represented as organic in the United States. Production or handling operations certified by MAFF may only use the USDA organic seal on their products when those products have been produced and handled in accordance to the NOP regulations. The recognition agreement allows certifying agents accredited by MAFF to certify organic production and handling operations located in Japan. Certifying agents accredited under this recognition agreement will be posted on the NOP website under International Issues, Export Arrangements and Recognition Agreements.