diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6cea198..f10bf85 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 - Hybrid retrieval now combines vector ranks with BM25 lexical ranks using
   Reciprocal Rank Fusion when `SearchOptions::hybrid(...)` or the CLI
   `search --hybrid` flag is enabled.
+- `PriorConsultationPolicy` under `mnemos::agentic`, re-exported at the crate
+  root, so host runtimes can declare whether relevant prior episodes are
+  required, advisory, or explicitly ignored.
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/mod.rs b/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/mod.rs
index 66c8bc0..57568c2 100644
--- a/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 mod causal;
 mod meta;
 mod online;
+mod policy;
 mod reflexion;
 mod sessions;
 mod skills;
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ mod temporal;
 pub use causal::{CausalEdge, CausalMemory, CausalNode, Hyperedge};
 pub use meta::{FewShotLearner, LearningStrategy, MetaLearner, TaskFeatures};
 pub use online::{DriftDetector, Experience, ExperienceWindow, OnlineLearner, ParameterSnapshot};
+pub use policy::PriorConsultationPolicy;
 pub use reflexion::{Critique, CritiqueType, ReflexionEpisode, ReflexionMemory};
 pub use sessions::{LearningSession, Reward, SessionTurn};
 pub use skills::{Skill, SkillLibrary, SkillPattern};
diff --git a/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/policy.rs b/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/policy.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96f8873
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/mnemos/src/agentic/policy.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+//! Agentic memory consultation policy.
+//!
+//! The policy answers whether a host must consult prior episodes before
+//! promoting load-bearing reasoning. Mnemos owns this vocabulary because it
+//! owns agentic memory and recall; host runtimes decide how to enforce it.
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+/// How strongly a run should depend on relevant prior episodes.
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum PriorConsultationPolicy {
+    /// Consult priors whenever available; continue without them when the
+    /// episodic store is unavailable.
+    #[default]
+    RequireWhenAvailable,
+    /// Block promotion of load-bearing claims if relevant priors cannot be
+    /// consulted.
+    RequireForLoadBearingClaims,
+    /// Surface priors when recalled, but never block if recall is unavailable.
+    OptionalAdvisory,
+    /// Explicitly do not consult prior episodes for this run.
+    IgnorePriors,
+}
+
+impl PriorConsultationPolicy {
+    /// Returns whether missing prior recall should block load-bearing claims.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn blocks_without_priors(self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::RequireForLoadBearingClaims)
+    }
+
+    /// Returns whether the policy permits prior recall.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn consults_priors(self) -> bool {
+        !matches!(self, Self::IgnorePriors)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_requires_priors_when_available() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            PriorConsultationPolicy::default(),
+            PriorConsultationPolicy::RequireWhenAvailable
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn only_load_bearing_policy_blocks_when_priors_are_missing() {
+        assert!(PriorConsultationPolicy::RequireForLoadBearingClaims.blocks_without_priors());
+        assert!(!PriorConsultationPolicy::RequireWhenAvailable.blocks_without_priors());
+        assert!(!PriorConsultationPolicy::OptionalAdvisory.blocks_without_priors());
+        assert!(!PriorConsultationPolicy::IgnorePriors.blocks_without_priors());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ignore_priors_disables_recall() {
+        assert!(!PriorConsultationPolicy::IgnorePriors.consults_priors());
+        assert!(PriorConsultationPolicy::OptionalAdvisory.consults_priors());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn policy_serializes_as_snake_case() {
+        let json =
+            serde_json::to_string(&PriorConsultationPolicy::RequireForLoadBearingClaims).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(json, "\"require_for_load_bearing_claims\"");
+
+        let back: PriorConsultationPolicy = serde_json::from_str(&json).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(back, PriorConsultationPolicy::RequireForLoadBearingClaims);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/mnemos/src/lib.rs b/crates/mnemos/src/lib.rs
index 8dbf1c1..657e0b9 100644
--- a/crates/mnemos/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/mnemos/src/lib.rs
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ pub use crate::agentic::{
     // Online/continual learning
     OnlineLearner,
     ParameterSnapshot,
+    PriorConsultationPolicy,
     // Reflexion (self-critique)
     ReflexionEpisode,
     ReflexionMemory,
diff --git a/kb/Architecture/Surface.md b/kb/Architecture/Surface.md
index 5228e42..59abf45 100644
--- a/kb/Architecture/Surface.md
+++ b/kb/Architecture/Surface.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ whose Rust library name is `mnemos`.
 - `ProvenanceSource` and `MNEMOS_PROVENANCE` for typed proposal provenance
   before crossing into `converge-pack::ProposedFact`.
 - `mnemos.suggestor.execute` tracing spans on knowledge suggestor execution.
+- `PriorConsultationPolicy` for host runtimes that need to declare whether
+  relevant prior episodes are required, advisory, or ignored.
 
 ## Contract dependencies