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Some key players • The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is a 15-member body including farmers, processors, retailers, scientists, public interest advocates, environmentalists and certifying agents. The NOSB advises the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture concerning implementation of the National Organic Program.
• The National Organic Program (NOP) is the administering body within the USDA that carries out the mandates of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The NOP is housed within the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.
• The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is an independent, nonprofit organization that reviews substances for use in organic production and maintains a database (searchable by brand name or generic material) indicating whether a given substance is "allowed" without restrictions, "restricted" (permitted within specific limits) or "prohibited" (not allowed under any circumstances). All organic producers work from the National List of Allowed Synthetic and Prohibited Non- Synthetic Substances (better known as the National List), which is updated and maintained by NOP officials, with input from the NOSB.
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