Alerts and Actions

Organic integrity can only be maintained through contant public pressure and involvement. Check back often as Beyond Pesticides works to keep the public informed on the lastest actions concerned citizens can take to protect the organic brand.

Take Action to Protect Organic Integrity!

Comments Due by March 19, 2012

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet in Portland, OR this spring to decide on a range of issues regarding the future of organic food and farming in the United States. The 15 member board will vote to allow or prohibit substances and practices in certified organic food and farming after considering input from any interested members of the public, such as farmers, consumers, food processors, or professionals.

Public participation is vital to the development of organic standards, as farmers and consumers relay their ideas to the board for consideration. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the issues on our Keeping Organic Strong webpage, and provide a unique public comment to board for their consideration by the deadline on March 19, 2013.

Take Action!
We urge citizens concerned about organic integrity to speak out and provide a public comment to USDA.
Please note that only the fields with an asterisk are required for entry, for "Organization Name" feel free to put "Private Citizen"

View our Keeping Organic Strong page for an overview of the issues, and then post your comment to the docket!

Previous Alerts

• For all other current and past opportunities for public involvement in the development of organic standards, see Beyond Pesticides' Keeping Organic Strong program page.
• Act Now! Organic Integrity is at Stake! An interim rule promulgated by NOP is permitting the continued illegal use of these synthetic nutrients in organic foods, which was allowed by a previous administration without the legally required NOSB ruling
  
• Help Remove Pro-Pesticide Provision in Farm Bill(4/9/08) Ask your Senators and Representative to stand up for the protection of health and the environment by joining with their colleagues in Congress by calling conferees to stop a pro-pesticide provision in the Farm Bill.
• Ask the Today Show To Give Equal Time to Organics (12/05/06) NBC's Today Show ran a piece recently that paints organic food as unsafe, leaving the impression that conventional chemically grown food is better. Ask the Today Show to get the facts right.
• Save Organic: Sign Letter to Organic Industry. Despite massive efforts by thousands (over 320,000!) of organic farmers, consumers, industries, and activists, the OTA Amendment to the Organic Foods Production Act passed in a closed-door, Leadership-only Agriculture-Appropriations Conference Committee on Friday, October 28, 2005.
• Organic Standards Under Sneak Attack Today! Vote at 4:00 pm. (10/25/05) Today Congress will consider an amendment to the Agricultural Appropriations Bill sponsored by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) that would weaken the organic food law.
• Thanks and Keep the Pressure On! (9/20/05) Write Congress Before It’s Too Late. Say NO to Dangerous Organic Rider on Senate Appropriations Bill
• USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has extended, until June 25, 2004 the comment deadline on its proposal to exempt 100 percent organic producers from commodity promotion assessments. See "Agricultural Marketing Service" at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a040426c.html. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to organicassessment@usda.gov.
• EPA solicits comments on Bt engineered cotton; Public Comments Due 11/14/03 (November 2003)
• All Things OrganicTM Trade Show 2004. 310 booths already reserved (October 2003)
• USDA seeks NOSB staff director. Listed as Advisory Board Specialist (October 2003)
• Thank You Members and Friends: Organic Integrity Upheld (April 2003)
• Appropriations Bill Rider Weakens Organic Livestock Standards (February 2003)
• Groups Take Legal Action to Protect Integrity of the National Organic Standards (October 2002)
• What does the USDA Organic Seal mean for you? A National Organic Standards Factsheeet (October 2002)
• USDA Announces New National Organic Standards (December 2000)