CCOF submitted a written comment to the National Organic Program (NOP) on inert ingredients in pesticides. The NOP sought input on how to update the organic regulations, which currently reference outdated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy on inert ingredients in pesticides. Inert ingredients are any substance other than the active ingredient in a pesticide product, including solvents, diluents, stabilizers, and preservatives.
On December 14, 2022, the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) added the following materials to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) and updated language as noted below:
CCOF is streamlining our approach to materials that do not contact organic products in processing/handling facilities. This includes equipment cleaners, equipment sanitizers, and facility pest control materials reviewed by CCOF, the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), or WSDA. CCOF will no longer add specific brand names for equipment cleaners, equipment sanitizers, and facility pest control materials to your Organic System Plan (OSP) Materials List.
On March 23rd, 2022, the National Organic Program (NOP) issued a final rule to add two new substances to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). The final rule also makes an administrative edit to §205.605.
In December 2020, state regulators in California and Washington discovered that a fertilizer product that was being packaged and sold in a bundle with an herbicide registered for use in organic production contained the prohibited substances diquat and glyphosate.
Deadlines are approaching to submit public comments and register for oral comments for the spring 2021 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting. We encourage CCOF members to submit public comments on the substances up for re-listing or removal from the National List of Allowed & Prohibited Substances, especially regarding substances listed on their Organic System Plan.
Crop Materials
MyCCOF: Materials Search in Spanish has been improved to include translations for material scopes, classifications, and restrictions. You can access the Spanish Materials Search by clicking the “Materials Search” button in MyCCOF, and choosing “En Espanol” from the menu at the top.
MyCCOF: La búsqueda de materiales en español ha sido actualizada para incluir traducciones de los alcances, clasificaciones, y restricciones de materiales. Puede acceder la búsqueda de materiales en español haciendo clic en el botón Búsqueda de Materiales en MyCCOF y seleccionando "En español" en el menú en la parte superior.
Review our FAQ on cleaners and sanitizers and the EPA list and search for materials on MyCCOF Materials Search. If you find the material you would like to use, be sure to follow any restrictions noted in Materials Search as well as label use instructions.
The National Organic Program (NOP) section 205.204 requires that producers search for organic strawberry planting stock (i.e., crowns, plugs, etc.) prior to using non‐organic.