National Organic Standards Board

Handling Committee

Sunset 2013 Proposed Recommendation

Tartaric acid on §205.605(a) and §205.605(b)

October 4, 2011

List: National Organic Program Subpart G: The National List of Allowed and 

Prohibited Substances. §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)).”

(a) Nonsynthetics allowed AND

(b) Synthetics allowed

Committee Summary: 

Tartaric acid is currently included on the National 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)).” This material 

is listed both as a Nonsynthetic allowed with an annotation of “made from grape wine” 

(§205.605 (a)) and a Synthetic allowed with an annotation of “made from malic acid” 

(§205.605 (b)).

Tartaric acid was added in both locations through a Federal Register notice on 

October 31, 2003 (61988 Federal Register, Volume 68, No. 211, #61988) resulting 

from a October 31, 1995 NOSB recommendation. Transcripts from that meeting are 

included below:

“Tartaric Acid (Made from grape wine)

Determined to be non-synthetic; Vote – Unanimous (1 absent).

The NOSB’s decision is to allow this material for use in organic food 

processing;

Vote – Unanimous (1 absent).

“Tartaric Acid (Made from malic acid)

Determined to be synthetic; Vote – Unanimous (1 absent).

The NOSB’s decision is to allow this material for use in organic food 

processing;

Vote: 10 aye / 4 opposed.

Both listings of tartaric acid were recommended by the NOSB for relisting as part of 

the sunset process at the May 2008 meeting. The non-synthetic listing, “made from 

grape wine,” was recommended for relisting by a vote of 13 yes, 1 abstention and 1 

absent. The synthetic listing, “made from malic acid,” was recommended for 

relisting by a vote of 10 yes, 3 no, 1 abstention and 1 absent. At the meeting public 

comment was received saying that the two sources of tartaric acid result in materials 
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Tartaric acid on §205.605(a) and §205.605(b)

October 4, 2011

with different properties that are used in different applications but that the 

predominant form of tartaric acid on the market is made from grape(s) or grape wine. 

No public comment was received at that meeting indicating that tartaric acid made 

from malic acid and listed on §205.605(b) was no longer necessary. The board 

recommendation from the May 2008 meeting said, “A petition to remove tartaric acid 

made from malic acid from 205.605 b) would allow for the fuller reconsideration of 

the listing of material as well at a future date.”

The listings of tartaric acid on both sections of §205.605 are due for a sunset review 

by 2013 (Federal Register Vol. 76, No. 105: AMS–NOP–11–0003). In response to 

this Federal Register notice, six public comments have been received with all 

supporting the relisting of tartaric acid. Specifically to the §205.605a non-synthetic 

listing, four public comments supported the relisting and one supported relisting or 

moving to §205.606 if there was sufficient evidence to demonstrate that it could be 

produced organically in appropriate form, quality and quantity. For the §205.605b 

synthetic listing, four public comments supported the relisting. One public comment 

supported relisting tartaric acid but did not indicate whether that support was for one 

or both listings.

In early September 2011 the NOSB received a petition for removal of tartaric acid 

from §205.605b. The petition indicates that there are no functional differences 

between the tartaric acid sourced from grape wine or from malic acid and that there 

is sufficient tartaric acid sourced from grape wine. Additionally, the petition goes on 

to say that tartaric acid is not sourced from malic acid but rather maleic anhydride. A 

Technical Review has been requested from the National Organic Program. It is 

expected to be completed by the end of October to allow for public comment. 

Should it not be received, the Handling Committee intends to defer a vote on this 

material until the spring 2012 meeting.

At this time however, we believe that there is insufficient evidence to support the 

need for both listings of tartaric acid. In two sunset reviews, we have received little 

public comment providing technical reasons why a synthetic source and form is 

needed when the non-synthetic source/form is the predominant version available.

Committee Vote

The Handling Committee recommends renewal of Tartaric Acid, made from grape wine

on the National List section §205.605(a)

Moved: Katrina Heinze Second: Steve Demuri

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

The Handling Committee recommends renewal of Tartaric Acid, made from malic acid

on the National List section §205.605(b)

Moved: Katrina Heinze Second: Steve Demuri

Yes: 1 No: 5 Absent: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0