AMS Extends Implementation Period for Removal of Amidated Pectin from Organic List

Amidated, non-organic pectin will be allowed in organic production until October 21, said the Agricultural Marketing Service, extending the implementation date for removal of the substance from June 27. AMS 2012 sunset review final rule, published June 6, had removed amidated, non-organic pectin from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances to allow only non-amidated forms of pectin, and in so doing prohibit amidated forms of pectin in organic production, effective June 27. AMS said it is extending the implementation date (with no change to the actual effective date of the amendments) because, after publication of the final rule on June 6, AMS received new information from industry that some organic processors are currently using amidated, non-organic pectin in their products. The industry indicated that these processors would need time to reformulate these products, AMS said.