Kara Sears
Organic farms in the US use pesticides, but only those that meet the criteria of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP is a marketing program within the Agricultural Marketing Service, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) agency that sets marketing standards for agricultural products. The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a citizen advisory board, advises the NOP on which substances should be allowed or prohibited. The NOSB is made up of organic growers, handlers, retailers, environmentalists, scientists, USDA-accredited certifying agents, and consumer advocates. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is an international nonprofit organization that determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production and processing. While organic pesticides are derived from natural sources, not all natural toxins are permitted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of pesticides in organic farms | Organic farms use pesticides and fungicides to prevent critters from destroying their crops. |
| Type of pesticides used | Organic pesticides are derived from natural sources and processed lightly if at all before use. |
| Synthetic pesticides | Synthetic pesticides are used in organic farming but only those that meet the criteria of the USDA National Organic Program. |
| Natural toxins | Not all natural toxins are permitted in organic farming. Strychnine, arsenic, and tobacco dust are prohibited. |
| Pesticide approval | The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production. |
| Pesticide usage recording | The actual volume usage of pesticides on organic farms is not recorded by the government. |
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What You'll Learn
The National Organic Program (NOP)
The NOP was established in 2000 under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), which required the Secretary of Agriculture to create a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. This list identifies synthetic substances that may be used and non-synthetic substances that cannot be used in organic production and handling operations. The NOP develops the rules and regulations for the production, handling, labelling, and enforcement of all USDA organic products, a process known as rulemaking. This process involves input from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a Federal Advisory Committee made up of fifteen members of the public, and the public itself. The NOSB is a citizen advisory board that represents all key sectors of the organic community, including organic growers, handlers, retailers, environmentalists, scientists, USDA-accredited certifying agents, and consumer advocates.
The NOP provides organic producers with resources to assist in becoming certified organic, including an organic program handbook, fact sheets, online training modules, and guidance on identifying accredited certifying agents. The NOP Handbook includes guidance, instructions, policy memos, and other documents that communicate the organic standards. To be certified organic, farmers and food processors must follow NOP standards and cannot use the term "organic" without certification (except for small growers selling under $5,000 a year, who must still comply with record-keeping and audits). Products labelled as "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" must adhere to the Organic Production and Handling Requirements outlined in regulation 7 CFR Part 205.
The NOP reviews the NOSB's recommendations on which substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic agriculture. While organic producers aim to avoid synthetic pesticides, some synthetic substances are allowed as exceptions, such as pheromones for pest control and vaccines for animals. The process for adding or removing substances from the National List is open, allowing for direct input from the organic community. The NOP can reject the NOSB's recommendation to add a substance to the list but cannot add a substance that hasn't been recommended by the NOSB.
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The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
The National List is developed and implemented by the National Organic Program (NOP), a marketing program within the Agricultural Marketing Service, which is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) agency. The NOP's mission is to establish and enforce national standards for marketing agricultural products as organically produced, facilitate commerce in fresh and processed food that is organically produced, and assure consumers that such products meet consistent standards.
The NOP works in conjunction with the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a citizen advisory board that includes representatives from all key sectors of the organic community, such as organic growers, handlers, retailers, environmentalists, scientists, USDA-accredited certifying agents, and consumer advocates. The NOSB is designed by law to advise the NOP on which substances should be allowed or prohibited. The NOSB reviews petitions for adding, removing, or changing the listing for a specific substance, considering specific criteria such as the need for the substance and its impacts on human health and the environment. The NOSB then makes recommendations to the NOP, which has the authority to accept or reject these recommendations.
The National List is a dynamic document that can be amended through a public and open process. The list includes annotations for specific requirements for using certain substances in organic operations, and these substances are commonly referred to as "restricted." It is important to note that all substances used in organic operations must be approved by the operation's certifying agent before use.
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The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
OMRI reviews products against the USDA Organic or Canada Organic Regime standards when companies apply. Acceptable products are OMRI Listed® and appear on the OMRI Products List©. OMRI also provides technical support and training for professionals in the organic industry. OMRI supports organic integrity by developing clear information and guidance about materials, so that producers know which products are appropriate for organic operations.
The OMRI website provides a search function with complete information about materials and products for organic use. OMRI subscribers and certifiers are also provided with guidance on the acceptability of various material inputs under the organic standards. OMRI's guidance includes information on the procedures for adding specific identification to product labels. This information assists organic growers and those certifying organic production methods in knowing which pesticide products meet the requirements of the NOP Rule for use in organic agriculture.
The National Organic Program (NOP) is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) marketing program within the Agricultural Marketing Service. The NOP's mission is to develop and implement national standards that govern the marketing of agricultural products as organically produced, facilitate commerce in fresh and processed food that is organically produced, and assure consumers that such products meet consistent standards. The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances is a component of the organic standards that lists the exceptions to the basic rule of allowing natural substances and prohibiting synthetic substances in organic farming.
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The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
The NOSB considers and makes recommendations on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. The board has special responsibilities related to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The process for adding or removing substances from this list is open, allowing for direct input from the organic community. An individual or organization can submit a formal petition to add, remove, or change the listing for a specific substance. A NOSB subcommittee will then review the petition and publish a proposed recommendation for the substance, requesting public comments before a public meeting.
The NOSB generally meets twice a year in a public forum to discuss and vote on subcommittee proposals related to the National List or other organic standards issues. During the meetings, the full board listens to oral public comments, discusses the proposals, and then votes on whether to pass the subcommittee proposals. NOSB subsequently submits its final recommendations to the USDA. For a proposal to become a recommendation to the USDA, it must receive a decisive vote (2/3 majority) by board members.
The NOSB plays a critical role in the organic rule-making process and ensures an open, balanced, and transparent process for setting and revising organic standards. The board's recommendations provide invaluable insight to the National Organic Program (NOP), which is a USDA marketing program that sets marketing standards for agricultural products produced organically.
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The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA)
The purpose of the OFPA is to standardize the production and certification of organic food by setting uniform minimum standards for organic production. The act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, which identifies synthetic substances that are allowed in organic production and non-synthetic substances that are prohibited. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances is a component of the organic standards, listing exceptions to the basic rule that organic standards should allow natural substances while prohibiting synthetic ones.
The OFPA also establishes a 15-member National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the implementation of the act. The NOSB is made up of dedicated public volunteers appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, including organic growers, handlers, retailers, environmentalists, scientists, USDA-accredited certifying agents, and consumer advocates. The NOSB uses specific criteria when voting, including the need for the substance and its impacts on human health and the environment.
The process for adding or removing substances from the National List is open to direct input from the organic community. An individual or organization can submit a formal petition to add, remove, or change the listing for a specific substance. A NOSB sub-committee then reviews the petition and publishes a proposed recommendation for the substance, requesting public comments before a public meeting. The NOP can reject the NOSB's recommendation to add a substance to the National List but cannot add a substance that hasn't been recommended by the NOSB.
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Frequently asked questions
No, organic farms in the US are not completely pesticide-free. Organic farms use pesticides and fungicides to prevent pests from destroying their crops.
Organic pesticides are typically derived from natural sources such as minerals and plant extracts. However, certain synthetic substances are also allowed for use in organic agriculture.
The National Organic Program (NOP), a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) marketing program, sets the standards for organic agriculture. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances is maintained by the NOP, which also reviews recommendations made by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
Some examples of pesticides used on organic farms in the US include copper, oils (such as petroleum, vegetable, and fish oils), and peracetic acid.
The assumption that organic pesticides are safer or better for the environment is not always true. Research has found that some organic pesticides can be more ecologically damaging and potentially harmful to human health.
