National List of allowed and prohibited synthetic and non-synthetic substances in organic production.

Nov 2003.

§ 205.601 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production.

In accordance with restrictions specified in this section, the following synthetic substances may be used in organic crop production:  Provided, That, use of such substances do not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water.  Substances allowed by this section, except disinfectants and sanitizers in paragraph (a) and those substances in paragraphs (c), (j), (k), and (l) of this section, may only be used when the provisions set forth in § 205.206 (a) through (d) prove insufficient to prevent or control the target pest.

(a) As algicide, disinfectants, and sanitizer, including irrigation system cleaning systems.

(1) Alcohols.

(i) Ethanol.

(ii) Isopropanol.

(2) Chlorine materials - Except, That, residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

(i) Calcium hypochlorite.

(ii) Chlorine dioxide.

(iii) Sodium hypochlorite.

(3) Copper sulfate--for use as an algicide in aquatic rice systems, is limited to one application per field during any 24-month period.  Application rates are limited to those which do not increase baseline soil test values for copper over a timeframe agreed upon by the producer and accredited certifying agent.

(4) Hydrogen peroxide.

(5) Ozone gas--for use as an irrigation system cleaner only.

(6) Peracetic acid--for use in disinfecting equipment, seed, and asexually propagated planting material.

(7) Soap-based algicide/demossers.

(b) As herbicides, weed barriers, as applicable.

(1) Herbicides, soap-based - for use in farmstead maintenance (roadways, ditches, right of ways, building perimeters) and ornamental crops.

(2) Mulches.

(i) Newspaper or other recycled paper, without glossy or colored inks.

(ii) Plastic mulch and covers (petroleum-based other than polyvinyl chloride (PVC)).

(c) As compost feedstocks.

Newspapers or other recycled paper, without glossy or colored inks.

(d) As animal repellents.

Soaps, ammonium - for use as a large animal repellant only, no contact with soil or edible portion of crop.

(e) As insecticides (including acaricides or mite control).

(1) Ammonium carbonate - for use as bait in insect traps only, no direct contact with crop or soil.

(2) Boric acid - structural pest control, no direct contact with organic food or crops.

(3)  Copper Sulfate - for use as tadpole shrimp control in aquatic rice production, is limited to one application per field during any 24-month period.  Application rates are limited to levels which do not increase baseline soil test values for copper over a timeframe agreed upon by the producer and accredited certifying agent.

(4) Elemental sulfur.

(5) Lime sulfur - including calcium polysulfide.

(6) Oils, horticultural - narrow range oils as dormant, suffocating, and summer oils..

(7) Soaps, insecticidal.

(8) Sticky traps/barriers.

(f)  As insect management.  Pheromones.

(g) As rodenticides.

(1) Sulfur dioxide - underground rodent control only (smoke bombs).

(2) Vitamin D3.

(h) As slug or snail bait - None.

(i) As plant disease control.

(1) Coppers, fixed - copper hydroxide, copper oxide, copper oxychloride, includes products exempted from EPA tolerance, Provided, That, copper-based materials must be used in a manner that minimizes accumulation in the soil and shall not be used as herbicides.

(2) Copper sulfate - Substance must be used in a manner that minimizes accumulation of copper in the soil.

(3)  Hydrated lime.

(4) Hydrogen peroxide.

(5) Lime sulfur.

(6) Oils, horticultural, narrow range oils as dormant, suffocating, and summer oils.

(7)  Peracetic acid - for use to control fire blight bacteria.

(8) Potassium bicarbonate.

(9) Elemental sulfur.

(10) Streptomycin, for fire blight control in apples and pears only.

(11) Tetracycline (oxytetracycline calcium complex), for fire blight control only.

(j) As plant or soil amendments.

(1) Aquatic plant extracts (other than hydrolyzed) - Extraction process is limited to the use of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide; solvent amount used is limited to that amount necessary for extraction.

(2) Elemental sulfur.

(3) Humic acids - naturally occurring deposits, water and alkali extracts only.

(4) Lignin sulfonate - chelating agent, dust suppressant, floatation agent.

(5) Magnesium sulfate - allowed with a documented soil deficiency.

(6) Micronutrients - not to be used as a defoliant, herbicide, or desiccant. Those made from nitrates or chlorides are not allowed. Soil deficiency must be documented by testing.

(i) Soluble boron products.

(ii) Sulfates, carbonates, oxides, or silicates of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt.

(7) Liquid fish products - can be pH adjusted with sulfuric, citric or phosphoric acid. The amount of acid used shall not exceed the minimum needed to lower the pH to 3.5.

(8) Vitamins, B1, C, and E.

(k)  As plant growth regulators.  Ethylene gas - for regulation of pineapple flowering.

(l) As floating agents in postharvest handling.

(1) Lignin sulfonate.

(2) Sodium silicate - for tree fruit and fiber processing.

(m) As synthetic inert ingredients as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for use with non-synthetic substances or synthetic substances listed in this section and used as an active pesticide ingredient in accordance with any limitations on the use of such substances.

(1) EPA List 4 - Inerts of Minimal Concern.

(2)  EPA List 3 - Inerts of unknown toxicity - for use only in passive pheromone dispensers.

(n)-(z) [Reserved]

[65 FR 80656, Dec. 21, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 61992, Oct. 31, 2003]

§  205.602 Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production.

The following nonsynthetic substances may not be used in organic crop production:

(a)  Ash from manure burning.

(b)  Arsenic.

(c)  Calcium chloride, brine process is natural and prohibited for use except as a foliar spray to treat a physiological disorder associated with calcium uptake.

(d)  Lead salts.

(e)  Potassium chloride ‑ unless derived from a mined source and applied in a manner that minimizes chloride accumulation in the soil.

(f)  Sodium fluoaluminate (mined).

(g)  Sodium nitrate - unless use is restricted to no more than 20% of the crop's total nitrogen requirement; use in spirulina production is unrestricted until October 21, 2005.

(h)  Strychnine.

(i)  Tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate).

(j)–(z) [Reserved]

[65 FR 80657, Dec. 21, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 61992, Oct. 31, 2003]

§ 205.603 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production.

In accordance with restrictions specified in this section the following synthetic substances may be used in organic livestock production:

(a)  As disinfectants, sanitizer, and medical treatments as applicable.

(1)  Alcohols.

(i)  Ethanol-disinfectant and sanitizer only, prohibited as a feed additive.

(ii)  Isopropanol-disinfectant only.

(2)  Aspirin-approved for health care use to reduce inflammation.

(3)  Biologics-Vaccines.

(4)  Chlorhexidine - Allowed for surgical procedures conducted by a veterinarian.  Allowed for use as a teat dip when alternative germicidal agents and/or physical barriers have lost their effectiveness.

(5)  Chlorine materials - disinfecting and sanitizing facilities and equipment.  Residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

(i)  Calcium hypochlorite.

(ii)  Chlorine dioxide.

(iii)  Sodium hypochlorite.

(6)  Electrolytes-without antibiotics.

(7)  Glucose.

(8)  Glycerine - Allowed as a livestock teat dip, must be produced through the hydrolysis of fats or oils.

(9)  Hydrogen peroxide.

(10)  Iodine.

(11)  Magnesium sulfate.

(12)  Oxytocin - use in portparturition therapeutic applications.

(13)  Paraciticides.  Ivermectin - prohibited in slaughter stock, allowed in emergency treatment for dairy and breeder stock when organic system plan-approved preventive management does not prevent infestation.  Milk or milk products from a treated animal cannot be labeled as provided for in subpart D of this part for 90 days following treatment.  In breeder stock, treatment cannot occur during the last third of gestation if the progeny will be sold as organic and must not be used during the lactation period for breeding stock.

(14)  Phosphoric acid - allowed as an equipment cleaner, Provided, That, no direct contact with organically managed livestock or land occurs.

(b) As topical treatment, external parasiticide or local anesthetic as applicable.

(1) Copper sulfate.

(2) Iodine.

(3) Lidocaine - as a local anesthetic. Use requires a withdrawal period of 90 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter and 7 days after administering to dairy animals.

(4) Lime, hydrated - as an external pest control, not permitted to cauterize physical alterations or deodorize animal wastes.

(5) Mineral oil - for topical use and as a lubricant.

(6) Procaine - as a local anesthetic, use requires a withdrawal period of 90 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter and 7 days after administering to dairy animals.

(c) As feed supplements - Milk replacers without antibiotics, as emergency use only, no nonmilk products or products from BST treated animals.

(d) As feed additives.

(1)  DL - Methionine, DL-Methionine - hydroxy analog, and DL-Methionine - hydroxy analog calcium - for use only in organic poultry production until October 21, 2005.

(2)  Trace minerals, used for enrichment or fortification when FDA approved.

(3) Vitamins, used for enrichment or fortification when FDA approved.

(e) As synthetic inert ingredients as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for use with nonsynthetic substances or a synthetic substances listed in this section and used as an active pesticide ingredient in accordance with any limitations on the use of such substances.

(1) EPA List 4 - Inerts of Minimal Concern.

(f)-(z) [Reserved]

[65 FR 80657, Dec. 21, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 61992, Oct. 31, 2003]

§ 205.604 Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic livestock production.

The following nonsynthetic substances may not be used in organic livestock production:

(a) Strychnine.

(b)-(z) [Reserved]

§ 205.605  Nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as "organic" or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups(s))."

The following nonagricultural substances may be used as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as "organic" or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))" only in accordance with any restrictions specified in this section.

(a)  Nonsynthetics allowed:

      Acids (Alginic; Citric - produced by microbial fermentation of carbohydrate substances; and Lactic).

       Agar-agar.

      Animal enzymes – (Rennet - animals derived; Catalase – bovine liver; Animal lipase; Pancreatin; Pepsin; and Trypsin).

       Bentonite.

      Calcium carbonate.

      Calcium chloride.

      Calcium sulfate - mined.

      Carageenan.

      Colors, nonsynthetic sources only.

      Dairy cultures.

      Diatomaceous earth - food filtering aid only.  

      Enzymes--must be derived from edible, nontoxic plants, nonpathogenic fungi, or nonpathogenic bacteria.

      Flavors, non-synthetic sources only and must not be produced using synthetic solvents and carrier systems or any artificial preservative.

      Glucono delta-lactone – production by the oxidation of D-glucose with bromine water is prohibited.

      Kaolin.

      Magnesium sulfate, nonsynthetic sources only.

      Nitrogen - oil-free grades.

      Oxygen--oil-free grades.

      Perlite--for use only as a filter aid in food processing.

      Potassium chloride.

      Potassium iodide.

      Sodium bicarbonate.

      Sodium carbonate.

      Tartaric acid.

      Waxes - nonsynthetic (Carnauba wax; and Wood resin).

      Yeast - nonsynthetic, growth on petrochemical substrate and sulfite waste liquor is prohibited (Autolysate; Bakers; Brewers; Nutritional; and Smoked - nonsynthetic smoke flavoring process must be documented).

(b)  Synthetics allowed:

      Alginates.

      Ammonium bicarbonate - for use only as a leavening agent.

      Ammonium carbonate - for use only as a leavening agent.

      Ascorbic acid.

      Calcium citrate.

      Calcium hydroxide.

      Calcium phosphates (monobasic, dibasic, and tribasic).

      Carbon dioxide. 

      Cellulose - for use in regenerative casings, as an anti-caking agent (non-chlorine bleached) and filtering aid.

      Chlorine materials - disinfecting and sanitizing food contact surfaces, Except, That, residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Calcium hypochlorite; Chlorine dioxide; and Sodium hypochlorite).

      Ethylene - allowed for postharvest ripening of tropical fruit and degreening of citrus.

      Ferrous sulfate - for iron enrichment or fortification of foods when required by regulation or recommended (independent organization).

      Glycerides (mono and di) - for use only in drum drying of food.

      Glycerin - produced by hydrolysis of fats and oils.

      Hydrogen peroxide.

      Lecithin - bleached. 

     Magnesium carbonate - for use only in agricultural products labeled "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))," prohibited in agricultural products labeled "organic."

      Magnesium chloride - derived from sea water.

      Magnesium stearate - for use only in agricultural products labeled "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))," prohibited in agricultural products labeled "organic."

      Nutrient vitamins and minerals, in accordance with 21 CFR 104.20, Nutritional Quality Guidelines For Foods.

      Ozone.

      Pectin (low-methoxy).

      Phosphoric acid - cleaning of food-contact surfaces and equipment only.

      Potassium acid tartrate.

      Potassium tartrate made from tartaric acid.

      Potassium carbonate.

      Potassium citrate.

      Potassium hydroxide - prohibited for use in lye peeling of fruits and vegetables except when used for peeling peaches during the Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) production process.

      Potassium iodide - for use only in agricultural products labeled "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))," prohibited in agricultural products labeled "organic."

      Potassium phosphate - for use only in agricultural products labeled "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))," prohibited in agricultural products labeled "organic."

      Silicon dioxide.

      Sodium citrate.

      Sodium hydroxide - prohibited for use in lye peeling of fruits and vegetables.

      Sodium phosphates - for use only in dairy foods.

      Sulfur dioxide - for use only in wine labeled "made with organic grapes," Provided, That, total sulfite concentration does not exceed 100 ppm.

      Tartaric acid.

      Tocopherols - derived from vegetable oil when rosemary extracts are not a suitable alternative.

      Xanthan gum.

      (c)-(z) [Reserved]

[65 FR 80657, Dec. 21, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 61993, Oct. 31, 2003, and 68 FR 62217, Nov 3, 2003]

§ 205.606 Non-organically produced agricultural products allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as "organic" or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups(s))."

The following non-organically produced agricultural products may be used as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as "organic" or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))" only in accordance with any restrictions specified in this section.

Any non-organically produced agricultural product may be used in accordance with the restrictions specified in this section and when the product is not commercially available in organic form.

(a) Cornstarch (native).

(b) Gums - water extracted only (arabic, guar, locust bean, carob bean).

 (c) Kelp - for use only as a thickener and dietary supplement.

 (d) Lecithin - unbleached.

 (e) Pectin (high-methoxy).

§ 205.607 Amending the National List.

 (a) Any person may petition the National Organic Standard Board for the purpose of having a substance evaluated by the Board for recommendation to the Secretary for inclusion on or deletion from the National List in accordance with the Act.

 (b) A person petitioning for amendment of the National List should request a copy of the petition procedures from the USDA at the address in § 205.607(c).

 (c)  A petition to amend the National List must be submitted to:  Program Manager, USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC  20250.

 [65 FR 80656, Dec. 21, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 61992, Oct. 31, 2003]