AMS Issues Draft Guidance on Materials for Organic Crop Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) has announced the availability of draft guidance concerning (i) “the
classification of materials under USDA organic regulations (7 CFR part 205)”
and (ii) “materials for use in organic crop production.” In particular, the first
set of guidance “details the procedures and decision trees for classifying
the materials used for organic crop production, livestock production, and
handling,” while the second set includes “an itemization of allowed natural
and synthetic materials and a limited appendix of materials prohibited in
organic crop production.”

AMS has asked “accredited certifying agents, certified operations, material evaluation programs, and other organic industry stakeholders” to submit comments on these documents through June 3, 2013. The agency will eventually publish the finalized version as part of the National Organic Program’s handbook for certifying agents and certified operations. See Federal Register, April 2, 2013.