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What the Standards say about organic integrity
There are two sections of the NOP Standards that relate specifically to the maintenance of organic integrity. §205.272 states that handlers of organic foods and other products "must implement measures necessary to prevent the commingling of organic and nonorganic products and protect organic products from contact with prohibited substances."
It goes on to prohibit:
• packaging materials, storage containers or bins containing synthetic fungicides, preservatives or fumigants; and
• "the use or reuse of any bag or container that has been in contact" with any prohibited material, unless "such reusable bag or container has been thoroughly cleaned and poses no risk" of contamination.
The "Facility pest management practice standard" (§205.271) stipulates that pest control for organic handling and storage areas must begin with:
• physical exclusion (such as closing up cracks to keep out mice),
• removal of nesting areas (such as mowing around bins), and
• environmental management (such as reducing temperatures to eliminate insects).
Physical controls such as traps or noisemakers are also permitted, as are lures and repellents consistent with the National List. (Vitamin D3, for instance, is allowed as a rat poison.)
If these methods aren't enough (or if federal, state or local regulations require use of a particular control measure), materials not on the National List may be used along with an approved method for preventing contamination of organic product, contingent upon permission of the certifying agent.
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 Parsnips packed up. (Photo: TRI)
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