USDA Organic Regulations - Comment Period Closing 5/10

Back on 3/11/24, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service issued a proposed rule to amend the USDA organic regulations related to mushroom and pet food standards. If you're involved in either of these two industries, please read on.

For those involved in organic mushroom production, the proposed amendments would:

• Clarify which existing crop production standards apply to organic mushroom production.?
• Create a mushroom-specific standard for organic compost production.?
• Require operations producing organic mushrooms to use organic materials for the un-composted portions of production substrate, use organic spawn media, and use organic mushroom spawn when commercially available.?

For those involved in organic pet food production, the proposed amendments would:

• Clarify how existing organic labeling requirements should be applied to organic pet food.?
• Allow organic meat and slaughter by-products in organic pet food.?
• Describe what ingredients can be used in organic pet food.
• Add synthetic taurine to the National List and allow its use in organic pet food to meet some pets’ nutritional needs.?

To see the rules in full and add your own commentary, please click here.

These updates, if implemented, may affect the classifications of products being imported. If you require guidance on your import classifications, please contact us.