Proposed Changes to the National List for Organic Crops and Handling

BY USDA NOP | Oct 18, 2019

On October 18, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) based on public input and the October 2018 recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board.

This proposed rule would:

• Allow blood meal made with sodium citrate to be used as a soil amendment.
• Prohibit the use of natamycin in organic crop production.
• Allow tamarind seed gum to be used as a nonorganic ingredient in organic handling when an organic form is not commercially available.

The USDA welcomes comments on the proposed amendments. The 60-day comment period will close on December 17, 2019.

About the National List

More information on the National List, including how and why substances are added or removed from it, is available on The National List page.