§6510 — Title 7 Agriculture | U.S. Code

Summary

To be certified organic, people who handle agricultural products must follow strict rules about what they can add and how they store and package goods. They must not add synthetic ingredients unless those items are on the National List. They must avoid ingredients that have too much nitrates, heavy metals, or toxic residues. They may not use sulfites, nitrates, or nitrites (sulfites are allowed only in making wine). Nonorganic ingredients are allowed only if they are on the National List and make up no more than 5 percent of the finished product’s weight (not counting salt and water). Packaging or storage that contains synthetic fungicides, preservatives, or fumigants cannot be used. Containers previously exposed to things that would hurt the organic quality cannot be used. Water used in products must meet all Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Farms and handlers must also keep organic meat from touching nonorganic meat.

Title 7, §6510

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For a handling operation to be certified under this chapter, each person on such handling operation shall not, with respect to any agricultural product covered by this chapter—

(1)add any synthetic ingredient not appearing on the National List during the processing or any postharvest handling of the product;

(2)add any ingredient known to contain levels of nitrates, heavy metals, or toxic residues in excess of those permitted by the applicable organic certification program;

(3)add any sulfites, except in the production of wine, nitrates, or nitrites;

(4)add any ingredients that are not organically produced in accordance with this chapter and the applicable organic certification program, unless such ingredients are included on the National List and represent not more than 5 percent of the weight of the total finished product (excluding salt and water);

(5)use any packaging materials, storage containers or bins that contain synthetic fungicides, preservatives, or fumigants;

(6)use any bag or container that had previously been in contact with any substance in such a manner as to compromise the organic quality of such product; or

(7)use, in such product water that does not meet all Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.] requirements.

(b)For a farm or handling operation to be organically certified under this chapter, producers on such farm or persons on such handling operation shall ensure that organically produced meat does not come in contact with nonorganically produced meat.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Safe Drinking Water Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(7), is title XIV of act July 1, 1944, as added Dec. 16, 1974, Pub. L. 93–523, § 2(a), 88 Stat. 1660, which is classified generally to subchapter XII (§ 300f et seq.) of chapter 6A of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 201 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

2005—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–97 inserted “not appearing on the National List” after “ingredient”. 2000—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–387 inserted “except in the production of wine,” after “sulfites,”. 1991—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “postharvest” for “post harvest”.

§6510 Handling