Proposed Changes to the USDA Organic Regulations: Mushroom and Pet Food Standards Open for Comment

BY USDA NOP | Mar 11, 2024

Proposed Changes to the USDA Organic Regulations: Mushroom and Pet Food Standards

Open for Comment

Today, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the USDA organic regulations. The rule proposes specific standards for organic mushroom production and organic pet food handling, creating more consistent standards for these markets. The proposed changes are based on public input and NOSB recommendations.

For organic mushrooms, this proposed rule would:

• Clarify which existing crop production standards apply to organic mushroom production.
• Create a mushroom-specific standard for organic compost production.
• Require operations producing organic mushrooms to:
  • Use organic materials for the uncomposted portions of production substrate when commercially available.
  • Use organic spawn media when commercially available.
  • Use organic mushroom spawn when commercially available.

For organic pet food, the rule would:

• Clarify how existing organic labeling requirements should be applied to organic pet food.
• Allow organic meat and slaughter by-products in organic pet food.
• Describe what ingredients can be used in organic pet food.
• Add synthetic taurine (an amino acid) to the National List and allow its use in organic pet food to meet some pets’ nutritional needs.

The public comment period opens today and closes on May 10, 2024. Be part of the policymaking process and make your voice heard—click on the link below to read the proposed rule and submit a comment.