Updated June 17, 2010 

Formal Recommendation by the 

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 

to the National Organic Program (NOP)

Date: April 29, 2011

Subject: Potassium Iodide 605(b) Sunset

Chair: Tracy Miedema

 

 

The NOSB hereby recommends to the NOP the following: 

Rulemaking Action X

Guidance Statement .

Other

Statement of the Recommendation (Including Recount of Vote): 

The committee believes that the currently listing of Potassium Iodide on 

205.605(b) is unnecessary given its inclusion under Nutrient Vitamins and 

Minerals. Accordingly, we recommend that this substance be removed from 

205.605(b). 

The handling committee recommends the removal of this substance from 

section 205.605(b) of the National List:

Potassium iodide—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with 

organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural 

products labeled “organic.”

The motion made was to relist Potassium Iodide to 605(b). The motion failed 

unanimously. 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation (including consistency with 

OFPA and NOP): 

An update Technical Review prepared in 2011 supports the existence of both 

natural and synthetic forms of Potassium Iodide. Given that the 605(b) listing is 

redundant (since KI is also allowed under the listing for Nutrient Vitamins and 

Minerals), the committee supports the removal of KI from 605(b). No public 

comment supporting the continued listing of KI to 605(b) was received by the 

board. 
Updated June 17, 2010 

NOSB Vote:

Moved: Steve DeMuri Second: Mac Stone

Yes: 0 No: 14 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Recusal: 0
National Organic Standards Board 

Handling Committee 

Sunset 2012 Proposed Recommendation 

Potassium Iodide on § 205.605(b) 

April 29, 2011 

List: 205.605 Nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed as ingredients in or on 

processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic (specified ingredients 

or food group(s)).” 

(b) Synthetics allowed 

Potassium iodide—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with 

organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural 

products labeled “organic.” 

Committee Summary 

According to FDA, potassium iodide may be used as food additive and can serve the following 

functions: 

 A nutrient in table salt as a source of iodine. 

 A dietary supplement for human consumption and in animal feeds. 

 A sanitizing agent for food processing equipment. 

Potassium iodide is listed on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substance in both 

§205.605 (a) Nonsynthetics allowed and (b) Synthetics allowed, with an annotation restricting 

its use to Made With Organic Products. Additionally, its use is also allowed under the 

205.605(b) listing for Nutrient Vitamins and Minerals. In addition, KI may be allowed under 

§205.603 (d) (2), as feed additives (trace minerals, used for enrichment or fortification when 

FDA approved). This sunset recommendation only relates to the 605(b) listing of this 

substance. 

KI can be both extracted from seaweeds or brines (nonsynthetic) and created through a 

number of chemical processes (synthetic). The 1995 technical review for this substance notes 

that KI extracted from brines is not commonly commercially available, but may be used in 

some applications. This assessment is confirmed by the 2011 technical report on KI. 

Accordingly, the substance is listed on both 605(a) and (b), with use of the synthetic version 

(on 605(b)) restricted to “Made with organic” products. 

The committee believes that the currently listing of Potassium Iodide on 205.605(b) is 

unnecessary given its inclusion under Nutrient Vitamins and Minerals. Accordingly, we 

recommend that this substance be removed from 205.605(b). 

 
Potassium Iodide on § 205.605(b) April 29, 2011

Page 2 of 2

Committee Recommendation(s)

The handling committee recommends the removal of this substance from section 205.605(b) of 

the National List: 

Potassium iodide—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with organic 

(specified ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural products labeled 

“organic.” 

Committee Vote 

Motion: To relist potassium iodide on § 205.605(b) 

Motion by: Joe Dickson Second: Katrina Heinze 

Yes: 0 No: 6 Absent: 1 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0