AMS Proposes Amendments to Organic National List

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed its regular update to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, which lists the synthetic substances allowed in the cultivation of organic products. The proposed additions are (i) low-acyl gellan gum, which is used as a thickener, and (ii) paper-based crop planting aids, which can transplant closely spaced crops. The proposal also includes a spelling change from “wood resin” to “wood rosin” because the latter term is more specific. Comments on the proposed changes will be accepted until April 4, 2022.