Formal Recommendation by the 

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 

to the National Organic Program (NOP)

 

Date: October 28, 2010 

Subject: Sunset Review of National List Substances (§205.603) allowed 

in livestock production 

Chair: Dan Giacomini 

 

 

The NOSB hereby recommends to the NOP the following: 

Rulemaking Action X 

Guidance Statement 

Other 

 

Statement of the Recommendation (Including Recount of Vote): 

 

At the Spring 2010 Meeting, the NOSB voted to renew 26 substances in 

section 205.603 of the National List, with Iodine recommended for use in 

205.603(a) As disinfectants, sanitizer, and medical treatments as applicable 

and 205.603(b) As topical treatment, external parasiticide or local anesthetic as 

applicable. The NOSB voted to defer action on eight (8) substances in section 

205.603 of the National List. Because of ongoing discussions with the 

Environmental Protection Agency regarding EPA List 4-Inerts of Minimal 

Concern, that substance was voted on again at the Fall 2010 Meeting. As a 

result, there are nine (9) substances listed in the recommendation. The eight 

deferred substances were deferred until the Fall 2010 pending new Technical 

Reviews. Even though the new TRs were not forthcoming in time for the Fall 

meeting, given that all public comment received was in favor of relisting these 

substances, the NOSB voted to renew the additional Sunset 2012 substances 

on §205.603 of the National List. 

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation (including consistency with 

OFPA and NOP): 

 

 Statements from the Livestock Committee explaining the rationale, supported 

through NOSB action, precedes the recommendation presented below. 

 

NOSB Vote: 

Moved: Kevin Engelbert Second: Jeff Moyer

Yes: 14 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Recusal: 0 
Section 205.603 

2012 Sunset Recommendation 

October 28, 2010

Page 2 of 4

National Organic Standards Board 

Livestock Committee 

Section 205.603 

2012 Sunset Recommendation 

July 27, 2010 

List: §205.603 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production 

Category Uses 

(a) As disinfectants, sanitizers, and medical treatments as applicable 

(b) As topical treatment, external parasiticide or local anesthetic as applicable 

(e) As synthetic inert ingredients 

Committee Summary 

To abide the current rules for the Sunset process, for the Livestock Committee to put forth a 

recommendation that would allow a material on the National List to expire, significant evidence 

must be found by the Committee or presented by the public that there is no further need for the 

substance, because naturals exist that can supplant their use. Or, evidence must exist that a 

substance fails the criteria by which it was originally put on the National List. Public comment 

against a material on the National List is not sufficient to recommend removal. Also, 

clarification of or changes to the annotation of a material cannot be dealt with during the 

Sunset process; a new petition would need to be submitted and handled through the regular 

petition process. 

Given the constraints of the current Sunset Review process, the Livestock Committee 

determined which of the materials on §205.603 had enough current information to recommend 

re-listing, and which materials needed further technical information (TRs). The committee 

received no evidence from the public that would indicate an individual material should be 

allowed to sunset, either because a natural now exists that would supplant its use, or because 

there is new evidence that it now fails the criteria for listing. The materials presently 

recommended for re-listing include their current annotation. 

There were eleven (11) materials deferred at the Spring 2010 NOSB Meeting pending new 

Technical Reviews (TRs), and one (1) material deferred pending the outcome of the 

collaborative effort between the NOSB Crops Committee and the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) regarding List 4 Inerts. For further clarification on List 4 Inerts, please reference 

the NOSB final recommendation from the April 26-29, 2010 meeting. The TRs in question will 

not be available for review by the Livestock Committee until early 2011. Even though List 4 

Inerts not longer technically exist, they are still recognized by the general public, and will be 

until a new list, appropriately labeled, becomes available. 

Rather than defer these votes again, until the Spring 2011 meeting, a majority of the Livestock 

Committee believes, given the current Sunset process rules, that the deferred materials should 

remain on the National List. 
Section 205.603 

2012 Sunset Recommendation 

October 28, 2010

Page 3 of 4

Committee Recommendations: 

The Livestock Committee recommends the renewal of the following substances in the 

use category §205.603. 

(a) As disinfectants, sanitizer, and medical treatments as applicable: 

(1) Alcohols. 

(i) Ethanol-disinfectant and sanitizer only, prohibited as a feed additive. 

(ii) Isopropanol-disinfectant only. 

(2) Aspirin-approved for health care use to reduce inflammation. 

(7) Chlorine materials—disinfecting and sanitizing facilities and equipment. Residual 

chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum residual disinfectant limit 

under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

(i) Calcium hypochlorite. 

(ii) Chlorine dioxide. 

(iii) Sodium hypochlorite. 

(10) Furosemide (CAS #–54–31–9)—in accordance with approved labeling; except that 

for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires a withdrawal period of at least twotimes that required that required by the FDA. 

(11) Glucose. 

(12) Glycerine—Allowed as a livestock teat dip, must be produced through the hydrolysis 

of fats or oils. 

(16) Magnesium sulfate. 

The Livestock Committee recommends deferral of the vote on the following materials in 

this use category until further technical information is obtained: 

 

None 

The Livestock Committee recommends not renewing the following substances in this 

use category: 

 

None 
Section 205.603 

2012 Sunset Recommendation 

October 28, 2010

Page 4 of 4

The Livestock Committee recommends the renewal of the following substances in the 

use category §205.603. 

(b) As topical treatment, external parasiticide or local anesthetic as applicable:

(1) Copper Sulfate 

The Livestock Committee recommends deferral of the vote on the following materials in 

this use category until further technical information obtained: 

None 

The Livestock Committee recommends not renewing the following substances in this 

use category:

None 

The Livestock Committee recommends the renewal of the following substances in the 

use category §205.603. 

(e) As synthetic inert ingredients as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), for use with nonsynthetic substances or synthetic substances listed in this section 

and used as an active pesticide ingredient in accordance with any limitations on the use 

of such substances. 

(1) EPA List 4---Inerts of Minimal Concern. 

The Livestock Committee recommends deferral of the vote on the following materials in 

this use category until further technical information is obtained: 

None 

The Livestock Committee recommends not renewing the following substances in this 

use category: 

None 

Committee Vote: 

Motion: Daniel Giacomini Second: Jennifer Hall 

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