7 U.S.C. § 6510: Handling

Summary

Handling operations must follow rules when processing or storing organic agricultural products. They may not add synthetic ingredients that are not on the National List. They must avoid ingredients known to have too much nitrate, heavy metals, or toxic residues. They may not add nitrates or nitrites, and sulfites are only allowed in wine. Nonorganic ingredients are allowed only if on the National List and make up no more than 5 percent of the finished product by weight (not counting salt and water). Packaging, storage, or bins may not contain synthetic fungicides, preservatives, or fumigants. Bags or containers that have been contaminated so they would harm organic quality cannot be used. Water used must meet all Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) requirements. For meat, producers and handlers must keep organic meat from touching nonorganic meat.

Title 7, §6510

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

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)Meat

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