WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2 014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) responded aftermost anniversary to a acknowledged address from 20 farm, consumer, and ecology groups by reinstating some authorities of the National Amoebic Standards Lath (NOSB), while continuing to absolute the Board's advising authority. The NOSB was accustomed by Congress in 1990 to accomplish as a abiding absolute authority. In May of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reauthorized the Lath beneath the Federal Advising Lath Act as it is appropriate to do every two years by law. Changes fabricated to the charter, however, afield re-categorized the NOSB as a time-limited Advising Lath accountable to USDA's acumen and narrowed the Board's responsibilities.
Beyond Pesticides, Center for Food Safety, and added amoebic acreage and customer groups filed a address in June ambitious the National Amoebic Affairs (NOP), a affairs aural USDA, alter the allotment to appropriately reflect the role of the NOSB. Aftermost week, the bureau agreed to change the allotment to reflect the abidingness and ascendancy of the Board.
Petitioners additionally requested that changes to the description of the NOSB's duties be adapted to announce the abounding across of responsibilities categorical in the amoebic statute. USDA alone that request, advertence in its official response, "The USDA is amenable for administering the amoebic program, and sets the calendar that defines the admonition requested from the NOSB on OFPA implementation."
"We are actual admiring that the USDA recognizes its absurdity in anecdotic the NOSB as a lath that would expire in two years, however, we acerb disagree with the Agency's inappropriate attached of NOSB responsibilities in any way that conflicts with the amoebic law and intentions of C ongress," says Aimee Simpson, Policy Director and Staff Attorney for Beyond Pesticides.
"Congress determines the binding duties of the NOSB, not the USDA or authoritative agenda," addendum Paige Tomaselli, Senior Attorney for the Center for Food Safety. "Thanks to the absorption and activity of amoebic acreage and customer groups, we accept ensured the continuing ascendancy of the absolute board."
The NOSB, appointed by the NOP, is comprised of a advanced swath of amoebic interests, including farmers, consumers, environmentalists, processors, a retailer, and a certifier. It is answerable with a cardinal of specific duties, including but not bound to establishing and renewing the account of constructed and non-organic abstracts accustomed to be acclimated in amoebic production, accepted as the National List.
Groups that active on to the address included: Beyond Pesticides, Center for Food Safety, The Cornucopia Institute, Food & Water Watch, Equal Exchan ge, La Montanita Co-op (New Mexico), Maine Amoebic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Midwest Amoebic and Sustainable Education Service, Northeast Amoebic Dairy Producers Alliance, Northeast Amoebic Farming Association (NOFA) Interstate Council, Connecticut NOFA, NOFA/Massachusetts Chapter, Inc., NOFA New Hampshire, NOFA New Jersey, NOFA-New York, Inc., NOFA Vermont, Amoebic Consumers Association, Organically Grown Company, Amoebic Seed Growers and Trade Association, and PCC Natural Markets.
Contact: Aimee Simpson, 202-543-5450
asimpson@BeyondPesticides.org,www.beyondpesticides.org
Abigail Seiler, 443-854-4368
aseiler@centerforfoodsafety.org, www.centerforfoodsafety.org
SOURCE Beyond Pesticides
- Government Agencies
- Government
- Department of Agriculture