Template Rev: 9/25/2016

National Organic Standards Board

Crops Subcommittee

Petitioned Material Proposal

Soywax

July 5, 2016

Summary of Petition:

Soy wax has been petitioned as a synthetic substance for use in organic mushroom production to seal 

plugs and ends of logs inoculated with mushroom spawn. Soy wax is intended to be used for the same 

purpose as microcrystalline cheesewax, which is currently listed at §205.601(o) as a production aid in 

the production of saprophytic mushrooms grown on logs.

Summary of Review:

Soy wax is produced from oil extracted from soybeans. The oil is hydrogenated, making it a solid at room 

temperature. Crystalline cheesewax, which is currently listed for the use, is made from petroleum. Soy 

wax, which is now available from non-GMO, domestically-produced soybeans, was petitioned for use 

because it has fewer environmental and health impacts than products made from petroleum.

Sox wax is considered synthetic because when it is hydrogenated, it undergoes a chemical change that 

does not happen naturally. Hydrogenation is the process whereby the poly- and mono-unsaturated oils 

are turned into saturated oils, solidifying them in order to increase the viscosity. As the petition 

describes it, this process involves the reaction of hydrogen with soybean oil at elevated temperature 

(140-225o

C) in the presence of a nickel catalyst. Therefore, even if soy wax were made from organic 

soybeans by this process, it would be synthetic.

A proposal to add soy wax to §205.601 was considered at the April 2016 meeting in Washington, D.C., 

but was referred back to the Crops Subcommittee for further discussion.

The Crops Subcommittee supports the addition of soy wax made from non-GMO soybeans to the 

National List as an alternative to microcrystalline cheesewax, which is made from petroleum.

Category 1: Classification 

1. For CROP use: Is the substance Non-synthetic or Synthetic? Substance is synthetic

 Is the substance formulated or manufactured by a process that chemically changes a substance 

extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources? [OFPA §6502(21)] If so, 

describe, using NOP 5033-1 as a guide.

Yes, the soybean oil is hydrogenated, a process in which double bonds between carbon and 

hydrogen atoms in the oil are converted into single bonds to make saturated fats. This is a 

chemical (synthetic) process that is accomplished by the reaction of hydrogen with the oil at 

elevated temperature (140-225o C) in the presence of a nickel catalyst. 

2. Reference to appropriate OFPA category:

Is the substance used in production, and does it contain an active synthetic ingredient in the 

following categories: [§6517(c)(1)(B)(i)]; copper and sulfur compounds; toxins derived from 

bacteria; pheromones, soaps, horticultural oils, fish emulsions, treated seed, vitamins and 

minerals; livestock parasiticides and medicines and production aids including netting, tree wraps 

and seals, insect traps, sticky barriers, row covers, and equipment cleansers; or (ii) is used in 
Template Rev: 9/25/2016

production and contains synthetic inert ingredients that are not classified by the Administrator 

of the Environmental Protection Agency as inerts of toxicological concern?

Yes, soy wax is used as a production aid

Category 2: Adverse Impacts 

1. What is the potential for the substance to have detrimental chemical interactions with other 

materials used in organic farming systems? [§6518(m)(1)]

Vegetable oils are not very reactive chemically and they biodegrade readily in the soil.

2. What is the toxicity and mode of action of the substance and of its breakdown products or any 

contaminants, and their persistence and areas of concentration in the environment? 

[§6518(m)(2)]

There should not be any because vegetable oils are not toxic and fully biodegrade in the soil.

The breakdown products are carbon dioxide and water.

3. Describe the probability of environmental contamination during manufacture, use, misuse or 

disposal of such substance? [§6518(m)(3)]

The process of hydrogenation involves dissolving hydrogen in soybean oil in the presence of 

heat and a nickel catalyst. No other chemical inputs are required or need to be disposed of.

4. Discuss the effect of the substance on human health. [§6517(c)(1)(A)(i); §6517(c)(2)(A)(i); 

§6518(m)(4)].

Hydrogenated soy oil is considered a trans-fatty acid, which has been shown to increase the risk 

of heart disease, so nutritionists recommend avoiding it in human diets. However, little--if any--

soy wax is expected to be consumed in edible mushrooms that have been grown on logs treated 

with soy wax.

5. Discuss any effects the substance may have on biological and chemical interactions in the 

agroecosystem, including the physiological effects of the substance on soil organisms (including 

the salt index and solubility of the soil), crops and livestock. [§6518(m)(5)] 

Soy wax is hydrogenated soybean oil and is non-toxic and biodegradable in soil. Soybean oil is 

commonly used in livestock feeds.

6. Are there any adverse impacts on biodiversity? (§205.200)

There should not be any adverse impacts on biodiversity because soybean oil is nontoxic and 

readily degraded by soil organisms.

Category 3: Alternatives/Compatibility

1. Are there alternatives to using the substance? Evaluate alternative practices as well as nonsynthetic and synthetic available materials. [§6518(m)(6)]
Template Rev: 9/25/2016

The currently used alternative is microcrystalline cheesewax, a synthetic made from petroleum, 

which is on the National List.

2. In balancing the responses to the criteria above, is the substance compatible with a system of 

sustainable agriculture? [§6518(m)(7)]

Yes, it is more compatible than the petroleum-based material currently being used for 

mushroom production.

Classification Motion: 

Motion to classify soy wax as synthetic

Motion by: Francis Thicke

Seconded by: Harold Austin

Yes: 7 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Recuse: 0 

National List Motion:

Motion to add soy wax at §205.601 of the National List (o) As production aids. Soy wax (CAS # 8016-

70-4)--for use in log grown mushroom production. Must be made from soybeans grown without 

excluded methods if soy wax from organic soybeans is not commercially available.

Motion by: Francis Thicke

Seconded by: Emily Oakley

Yes: 7 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Recuse: 0