Synthetic versus Nonsynthetic Determination

The USDA National Organic Program regulations define synthetic as follows:
"A substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources, except that such term shall not apply to substances created by naturally occurring biological processes."

Determining whether a substance is synthetic can be a very technical task. OMRI recommends following these steps to help you determine whether a substance is synthetic:

1. Search for your substance in the OMRI Generic Materials List© online or in the printed copy (if you are using the printed version be sure to check the OMRI website for the any updates). The OMRI Generic Materials List specifies whether synthetic or nonsynthetic versions of substances are permissible for use in organic production. The printed OMRI Generic Materials List is organized into three sections based on the product's intended use: CROPS, LIVESTOCK, and PROCESSING & HANDLING. Look for the “Use Class” that is specific to your product's intended use.
2. If you do not find the substance in the appropriate section of the OMRI Generic Materials List, or if you are still unsure whether your particular ingredient/product would be considered synthetic, look at the National Organic Program's website for the "Decision Tree for Classification of Materials as Synthetic or Nonsynthetic."

OMRI policy prevents our staff from providing specialized advice to any individual or company. However, if you have a question about whether a particular substance is synthetic and it is not answered by using OMRI's application resources, then please contact us. Please keep in mind that OMRI may not be able to determine whether a particular substance is synthetic without reviewing your complete application.