IACM has submitted comments to the National Organics Standards Board (NOSB) in response to the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) request for comments regarding the sunset review of colors, an item on the upcoming NOSB meeting October 26-29 in Stowe, VT and the proposed Handling Subcommittee’s recommendation to the NOSB.
IACM’s comments
Updated to add unofficial results of NOSB voting:
Black/Purple Carrot — Vote – Remove: 2 Relist: 10 Abstain: 2
Blueberry Juice Color — Vote – Remove: 5 Relist: 5 Abstain: 4
Beet Juice Extract — Vote – Remove: 6 Relist: 6 Abstain: 2
Black Current Juice Color —Vote – Remove: 3 Relist: 6 Abstain: 5
Carrot Juice Color — Vote – Remove: 4 Relist: 7 Abstain: 3
Cherry Juice — Vote – Remove: 3 Relist: 9 Abstain: 2
Chokecherry (Aronia Juice Color) — Vote – Remove: 7 Relist: 5 Abstain: 2
Elderberry — Vote – Remove: 7 Relist: 5 Abstain: 2
Grape Juice Color — Vote – Remove: 7 Relist: 5 Abstain: 2
Grape Skin Extract —Vote – Remove: 6 Relist: 6 Abstain: 2
Pumpkin Juice Color —Vote – Remove: 7 Relist: 5 Abstain: 2
Paprika —Vote – Remove: 5 Relist: 7 Abstain: 2
Pumpkin —Vote – Remove: 2 Relist: 11 Abstain: 1
Purple Potato Juice —Vote – Remove: 7 Relist: 5 Abstain: 2
Red Cabbage Color — Vote – Remove: 2 Relist: 11 Abstain: 1
Red Radish Extract Color — Vote – Remove: 6 Relist: 6 Abstain: 2
Saffron Extract Color — Vote – Remove: 7 Relist: 5 Abstain: 2
Turmeric Extract Color — Vote – Remove: 3 Relist: 9 Abstain: 2
Note that 2/3 majority is needed to remove a material from the National List. For this meeting there were 14 members. Abstentions do not count towards the vote.