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Are all calcium phosphate fertilizers allowed in organic production?
By Brian Baker
No, calcium phosphate’s allowance in organic farming depends on its source and manufacturing. Calcium phosphate comes in mono-, di- and tricalcium forms. Tricalcium phosphate is usually natural and allowed when derived from phosphate rock or bone meal....
Is heptane or pentane allowed in organic hemp processing and handling?
By Cesar Cartagena
Since the state of California legalized the sale and medical use of cannabis in 1996, organic hemp certification has been a topic of particular interest to farmers and operators. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which directed the USDA to establish a national regulatory framework for hemp production,...
If a product is OMRI Listed® for use under USDA organic regulations, does that provide sufficient verification of GE status to prove compliance under the COR standards?
By Sarah Peters
The Canadian and U.S. regulations differ in regard to how they address genetic engineering (GE) in organic production. As a result, the OMRI listing of a product for compliant use under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations does not automatically equate to that same material being considered compliant under the Canadian...
How does the Canada Organic Regime (COR) standard apply to hand sanitizers?
By Jimmy Trasport
During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, people became very familiar with hand sanitizer products. Under the Canada Organic Regime (COR) standards, there are special considerations for using such products in organic processing and handling.
Hand sanitizers most commonly use ethyl alcohol (ethanol), isopropyl alcohol or benzalkonium chloride as...
Are there non-synthetic sources of phosphoric acid? Under the Canada Organic Regime (COR) standards, what restrictions apply to phosphoric acid used as a formulant in livestock health care products?
By Cesar Cartagena
As one of the six macrominerals, phosphorus is an essential element for life. Its elemental forms, white and red phosphorous, are highly reactive, and phosphorous is most often found in nature as the insoluble rock phosphate mineral apatite.
Phosphorous is better absorbed when in soluble form, such...
How do the USDA standards address GMOs?
By Peter Bungum
In 2002, the OMRI Advisory Council developed a process for addressing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in inputs, and OMRI continues to use this process. This article, as well as articles on GMOs as Processing Inputs and GMOs as Livestock Inputs, reflect OMRI's historic and current stance on addressing GMO materials in the absence of further...
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...
Will OMRI list a pesticide product that is not yet registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)?
Yes. During the early days of the OMRI Canada Review Program, it was not clear whether pesticide products without a pest control product (PCP) number could be reviewed and approved...
How does OMRI evaluate genetically engineered (GE) materials for use as ingredients in processed organic food products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic ingredients”?
By Taryn Kennedy
Because input materials for processing and handling can come in direct contact with food, or are included as ingredients, the review standards for these materials are more restrictive than the standards for crop and livestock inputs. When reviewing GE materials for processing and handling, OMRI distinguishes between “nonorganic...
How does OMRI evaluate GMOs for use as livestock inputs?
By Ana Negrete
Organic livestock production systems rely on several products, and the non-GMO (genetically modified organism) requirements vary depending on how the material is used. In order to review genetically engineered (GE) materials for use in organic livestock production, OMRI distinguishes between inputs used for...
