AMS Proposes Amendments to National Organic List
The Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing to make changes to the National Organic Program’s List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances related to the use of synthetic and nonorganic substances allowed for use in production of organic food production. Proposed amendments would affect the use of peracetic acid, potassium hydroxide and silicon dioxide in organic foods, and would remove nonorganic annatto extract color from the list of nonorganic substances allowed in organic processed products. Comments on the proposed rule are due by March 7.
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The proposed rule would make the following amendments to the National List:
Peracetic acid. The listing for peracetic acid under 7 CFR 205.601 (“synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production”) would be amended to specify that the chemical is “permitted in hydrogen peroxide formulations at concentration of no more than 5% as indicated on the pesticide product label” when used for control of fire blight bacteria or when disinfecting equipment, seed, and asexually propagated planting material. AMS said this change would align the National List with Environmental Protection Agency labeling requirements.
Potassium hydroxide. The listing for potassium hydroxide in 7 CFR 205.605 (“nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as ''organic'' or ''made with organic...”) would be amended to allow use of the chemical in lye peeling of all forms of peaches. The listing currently restricts the chemical’s use to peeling peaches produced using the Individually Quick Frozen production process.
Silicon Dioxide. The listing for silicon dioxide, also in 7 CFR 205.605, would be amended to allow the chemical’s use as a defoamer, as well as other uses when organic rice hulls are not commercially available.
Beta-carotene color. AMS would amend the listing for beta-carotene color in nonorganic agricultural products allowed for use in “organic” processed products at 7 CFR 205.606(d) to correct its CAS number, as well as allow beta-carotene derived from algae.
Annatto extract. The proposed rule would remove annatto extract color from 7 CFR 205.606(d) as a permitted nonorganic color. According to the petition requesting removal, organic annatto seeds are now available in adequate quantities.