NOP to Require Organic Hops & Yeast in Organic Beer, Bread Production
The National Organic Program is changing listings for several substances and renewing 200 others that were scheduled to expire this year for substances allowed or prohibited in organic agriculture, said the Department of Agriculture. The final results of the NOP’s 2012 five year sunset review, which was sent to the Federal Register, renews over 200 listings and makes changes to the following substances, among on the National List, said USDA (unless otherwise noted, all renewals and changes are effective June 27, 2012):
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- Only non-amidated forms of non-organic pectin, typically added to thicken jams and jellies, will be allowed when organic pectin is not commercial available.
- The listing for iodine, which is used to fortify organic foods, was clarified.
- The allowed use of chlorine materials in organic crop production was clarified.
- The allowed use of lignin sulfonate in organic crop production was clarified.
- The allowed use of non-organic colors in organic processed products was clarified. Organic colors must be used if they are commercially available.
- The allowance for streptomycin to control infections in organic apple and pear orchards was extended until October 21, 2014.
- Effective October 21, 2012, yeast used in baked goods and other processed organic products must be organic, if commercially available and intended for human consumption.
- Effective October 21, 2012, sulfur dioxide (smoke bombs) will no longer be allowed for rodent control in organic crop production.
- Effective January 1, 2013, hops, typically used in organic beer production, must be organic.
More Rules to Come on Sodium Nitrate, Vitamins & Minerals
Sodium nitrate, which is currently allowed under restricted conditions in organic crop production, will undergo a separate rulemaking that considers the NOSB’s recommendation to prohibit its use altogether in organic crop production. Additionally, NOP will clarify the listing for vitamins and minerals after the assessment of public comments is complete.
(ITT will provide further details upon publication of the final results of the sunset review.)
(See ITT's Online Archives 10032940 for summary of the NOP's advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments on its 2012 sunset review.)