USDA Renews Approvals for Seven Substances Used in Organic Production and Handling

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing
Service has completed the 2016 sunset process for five synthetic and
two non-synthetic (natural) substances on the National List of Allowed
and Prohibited Substances that governs the use of synthetic and nonsynthetic
substances in organic production, processing and handling.

Per the National Organic Standards Board’s recommendations, AMS
has renewed approvals for the following synthetic substances used in
organic crop production: (i) ferric phosphate for use as slug bait; and
(ii) hydrogen chloride for delinting cotton seed for planting. It has also
renewed approvals for the following non-agricultural ingredients used
in or on organic products: (i) L-malic acid; (ii) any food grade bacteria,
fungi, and other microorganism; (iii) activated charcoal from vegetative
sources, for use only as a filtering aid; (iv) peracetic acid/peroxyacetic
acid when used in wash and/or rinse water according to Food and
Drug Administration limitations, for use as a sanitizer on food contact
surfaces; and (v) sodium acid pyrophosphate, for use only as a leavening
agent. AMS will next reconsider these substance as part of Sunset Review
2021. See Federal Register, February 23, 2016.

Issue 595