The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to implement the National Organic Standards Board’s (NOSB) 2016 sunset review recommendations of substances on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). The proposed rule has a 60-day comment period.
The proposed rule, which was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 16, 2015, would remove from the National List five non-organic, non-agricultural substances used as ingredients in or on processed products (egg white lysozyme, cyclohexylamine, diethylaminoethanol, octadecylamine, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate). After considering public comments and supporting documents, the NOSB recommended that the substances are no longer necessary for organic handling.
If published as a final rule, the substances would no longer be allowed in organic handling after their sunset date, Sept. 12, 2016.
Interested persons may comment on the proposed rule using the following procedures:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
- Mail: Robert Pooler, Standards Division, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2642-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.
View the Proposed Rule.