USDA published a final rule making two amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The final rule is based on public input and the November 2017 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommendations for livestock and handling and will be effective May 30, 2019.
Elemental sulfur is currently allowed for use as an insecticide, plant or soil amendment, and for plant disease control. The new rule will allow for the substance to be used in organic livestock production as a topical insect repellent treatment.
Potassium acid tartrate, a biproduct of wine production, will be reclassified from a nonagricultural substance to an agricultural substance. Handlers will now be required to use an organically derived form of the substance when commercially available. CCOF supported the reclassification as an agricultural substance through comments to NOSB.
For more information on the reclassification of potassium acid tartrate, please contact your CCOF Certification Service Specialist.