What is the 'National List' for processed products?

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The National List is the list of non-organic materials you are allowed to use as ingredients, additives, or processing aids in your organic products. For processors this includes materials such as yeast, citric acid, baking soda, diatomaceous earth, and others. Only non-organic ingredients and processing aids included on the National List may be used in and on your products. CCOF must approve the use of all ingredients and processing aids prior to use to protect you from inadvertent and costly mistakes. 

The National List for processed products can be found in sections 205.605 and 205.606 of the National Organic Program Standards. 205.605 is a list of non-agricultural materials that may be used in or on organic products. 205.606 is a list of non-organic agricultural ingredients that may be used if they are not commercially available as organic. The National List is also available by visiting the National Organic Program website.

  • To be eligible for an “Organic” label claim, a product must contain less than 5% of materials found on the National List.
  • To be eligible for a “Made with Organic (specific foods or food groups)” label claim, a product must contain less than 30% non-agricultural materials included on 205.605 and any non-organic agricultural ingredient. 205.606 does not apply to products in this label category.

To demonstrate that an agricultural ingredient listed on 205.606 is not commercially available in organic form, you may visit the CCOF Organic Directory, the USDA's Organic Integrity Database, or Organic Trade Association Organic Pages directory. Contact ccof@ccof.org if you have more questions on how to determine if a non-organic material can be used in your product.

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