Natamycin

By Doug Currier

Based on a November 5, 2020 Federal Register Notice, OMRI has resolved a compliance issue related to natamycin use in USDA organic production, an issue previously considered “beyond resolution.” The resolution action taken by OMRI, in addition to this stakeholder announcement, includes removal of a “beyond resolution” summary from OMRI.org/faq. That original summary is included below for reference. A link to the 2017 natamycin technical report is also included below. 

Brand-name products which include natamycin as a formulation ingredient are again within OMRI’s scope of review. If you accepted a previous decision for your product, you are welcome to reapply.

Original natamycin “beyond resolution” issue summary: 

Archived December 22, 2020
ISSUE: Natamycin
Use Class: All Use Classes 

Natamycin is a microbial substance that is EPA registered for use as a fungistat in mushroom production facilities. Although OMRI has determined that natamycin is a nonsynthetic material based on the National Organic Program (NOP) Guidance on Classification of Materials (NOP 5033), the NOP has stated that this substance is not allowed under the NOP regulations and has instructed OMRI not to list products containing natamycin. The NOSB subsequently considered a petition for natamycin at the fall 2018 meeting, and voted to classify natamycin as nonsynthetic. The NOSB also voted to list natamycin at §205.602 as a prohibited nonsynthetic material for use in Crop production. Pending formal rulemaking, OMRI will continue to consider products containing natamycin beyond resolution.

2017 Natamycin Technical Report