NOSB Administrative Information NOSB Meetings NOSB Recommendations Executive Committee Conference Call Summaries What's New? NOSB Archives Site Map USDA's National Organic Program		Recommendations made by the NOSB are not official policy until they are approved and adopted by USDA. The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, part of the 1990 Farm Bill, authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint a 15-member National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The board's main mission is to assist the Secretary in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on other aspects of implementing the national organic program. The first NOSB was appointed by then Secretary Edward Madigan in January 1992. Members of the initial board served staggered terms of 3, 4, or 5 years. All subsequent board appointees serve 5-year terms. The current board is comprised of four farmers/growers, two handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public interest advocates, three environmentalists, and one certifying agent who sit on various committees.  Members come from all four U.S. regions.  Several pages on this website are in PDF format and can only be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Follow this link to download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.