National Organic Standards Board

Materials Subcommittee

Proposal: Prevention Strategy Guidance for Excluded Methods

August 11, 2015

On April 24, 2014, the National Organic Program sent a memorandum to the NOSB titled “Improved 

Guidance on Preventing GMO Presence in Organic Products.” The memorandum asked the NOSB to 

provide recommendations regarding best management practices for prevention of unintended GMO 

presence. In response, the Materials Subcommittee prepared the following proposal. 

I INTRODUCTION

In an environment where GMOs are widely distributed throughout the food chain, it is imperative that 

organic producers and handlers have strategies and plans to prevent GMO contamination. A key tenet 

of "co-existence" is a shared responsibility for the exclusion of the methods and products of genetic 

engineering. The organic part of this shared responsibility is practiced extensively already, but it would 

be a stronger point in future policy statements and efforts against GMO contamination of organic 

products if it were spelled out thoroughly in guidance from the National Organic Program.

Many prevention strategies already exist in the organic and non-GMO community. These sources are 

being utilized to create a comprehensive set of steps and considerations that organic producers and 

handlers can use in their own operations and Accredited Certifying Agents (ACAs) can use to verify 

compliance with the contamination avoidance clause in the rule as it relates to GMOs.

II BACKGROUND

The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 does not mention biotechnology, genetic engineering 

or genetically modified organisms, but OFPA prohibits synthetics unless they are on the National List. 

The first NOP proposed rule (1997) did not prohibit GMOs, resulting in a huge public outcry against 

GMOs being considered for use in organic production and handling. The proposed rule was withdrawn 

and the second NOP proposed rule (2000) excluded the use of GMOs in organic production and 

handling.

The NOP regulations prohibit the use of GMOs as “excluded methods” under 7 CFR § 205.105: “Allowed 

and prohibited substances, methods, and ingredients in organic production and handling.” Excluded 

methods are defined as:

A variety of methods to genetically modify organisms or influence their growth and 

development by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes and are not 

considered compatible with organic production. Such methods include cell fusion, 

microencapsulation and macroencapsulation, and recombinant DNA technology (including gene 

deletion, gene doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes when 

achieved by recombinant DNA technology). Such methods do not include the use of traditional 

breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture (7 CFR

§ 205.2-Terms defined)
Compliance with the organic Standards requires that operations have verifiable practices in place to 

avoid contact with GMOs. Since organic certification is process-based, the presence of detectable GMO

residues alone does not necessarily constitute a violation of the regulation. The organic Standards make 

allowances for “Unavoidable residual environmental contamination,” which is defined (§ 205.2) as 

“Background levels of naturally occurring or synthetic chemicals that are present in the soil or present in 

organically produced agricultural products that are below established tolerances.”

The NOP relies on organic certifiers and producers to determine preventive practices that most 

effectively avoid contact with GMOs on an organic operation.

III RELEVANT AREAS OF THE RULE AND NOP GUIDANCE/POLICY

Rule 7 CFR

§205.105 Allowed and prohibited substances, methods, and ingredients in organic production and 

handling.

To be sold or labeled as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients 

or food group(s)),” the product must be produced and handled without the use of: 

(e) Excluded methods, except for vaccines: Provided, that, the vaccines are approved in accordance with 

§205.600(a);

§205.201 Organic production and handling system plan.

(a)...An organic production or handling system plan must include:

(3) A description of the monitoring practices and procedures to be performed and maintained, including 

the frequency with which they will be performed, to verify that the plan is effectively implemented;

(5) A description of the management practices and physical barriers established to prevent commingling 

of organic and nonorganic products on a split operation and to prevent contact of organic production 

and handling operations and products with prohibited substances;

(6) Additional information deemed necessary by the certifying agent to evaluate compliance with the 

regulations.

§205.272 Commingling and contact with prohibited substance prevention practice standard.

(a) The handler of an organic handling operation must implement measures necessary to prevent the 

commingling of organic and nonorganic products and protect organic products from contact with 

prohibited substances. 

(b) The following are prohibited for use in the handling of any organically produced agricultural product 

or ingredient labeled in accordance with subpart D of this part: 

(1) Packaging materials, and storage containers, or bins that contain a synthetic fungicide, preservative, 

or fumigant; 

(2) The use or reuse of any bag or container that has been in contact with any substance in such a 

manner as to compromise the organic integrity of any organically produced product or ingredient placed 

in those containers, unless such reusable bag or container has been thoroughly cleaned and poses no 

risk of contact of the organically produced product or ingredient with the substance used. 

§205.600 Evaluation criteria for allowed and prohibited substances, methods, and ingredients. 

(a) Synthetic and nonsynthetic substances considered for inclusion on or deletion from the National List 

of allowed and prohibited substances will be evaluated using the criteria specified in the Act (7 U.S.C. 

6517 and 6518).
§205.670 Inspection and testing of agricultural products to be sold or labeled as “100 percent 

organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)).”

(a) All agricultural products that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” 

“organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be made accessible by 

certified organic production or handling operations for examination by the Administrator, the applicable 

State organic program's governing State official, or the certifying agent.

(b) The Administrator, applicable State organic program's governing State official, or the certifying agent 

may require pre-harvest or postharvest testing of any agricultural input used or agricultural product to 

be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified 

ingredients or food group(s))” when there is reason to believe that the agricultural input or product has 

come into contact with a prohibited substance or has been produced using excluded methods. Samples 

may include the collection and testing of soil; water; waste; seeds; plant tissue; and plant, animal, and 

processed products samples. Such tests must be conducted by the applicable State organic program's 

governing State official or the certifying agent at the official's or certifying agent's own expense.

(c) A certifying agent must conduct periodic residue testing of agricultural products to be sold, labeled, 

or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food 

group(s)).” Samples may include the collection and testing of soil; water; waste; seeds; plant tissue; and 

plant, animal, and processed products samples. Such tests must be conducted by the certifying agent at 

the certifying agent's own expense.

(d) A certifying agent must, on an annual basis, sample and test from a minimum of five percent of the 

operations it certifies, rounded to the nearest whole number. A certifying agent that certifies fewer than 

thirty operations on an annual basis must sample and test from at least one operation annually. Tests 

conducted under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section will apply to the minimum percentage of 

operations.

NOP Guidance

 NOP 5025 Commingling and Contamination Prevention in Organic Production and Handling 

(Effective date: 7/22/2011)

NOP Policy Memo

 Policy Memo 11-13 Genetically modified organisms (Issue date: 4/15/11)

NOP Fact Sheets

 Can GMOs be used in Organic Products? (Published May 2013)

IV DISCUSSION

Education is needed for organic farmers and handlers and their employees on the specific opportunities 

for cross contamination in their operations and regions. Education could be provided through extension 

services, webinars, self-assessment tools, etc. Part of the best management for every organic operation 

is to stay informed on GMO issues and the best management practices.

Organic System Plan (OSP)

Production and handling operations should identify and address their GMO prevention strategies and 

organic control points in their OSP. The producer and handler’s OSP should include a description of 

management practices established to prevent contact of organic crops and products with GMOs, and a 
description of the monitoring practices performed to verify that such measures are effectively 

implemented. 

Certifying agents should evaluate the preventive practices to determine if they are adequate to avoid 

contact with GMOs. The preventive practices described in the OSP should be based on information 

collected through an “at-risk” assessment of crops/products and possible sources of GMO contact. The 

inclusion of this information should be consistent with other guidance documents NOP has released to 

industry and Accredited Certifying Agencies (ACAs).

Best Management Practices

Because GMOs are widely used in conventional food and feed systems, they are nearly ubiquitous in our 

environment, and there are many potential opportunities for GMOs to contaminate organic food and 

feed. The following is a summary of management practices recommended to help prevent GMO 

contamination, drawn from the references listed at the end of this document, public comment on the 

draft discussion document on this subject put forward for spring 2015, and other sources.

Best Management Practices for seed and crop production 

 Assess farm site and crops to be grown for potential sources of contamination.

 Identify at-risk crops1 and potential points of contamination for each, including knowing what

GMO crops are expected to be grown in the area.

 Communicate with neighboring farmers about what at-risk crops you will grow, if they will grow 

GMO varieties of those crops, and what might be done to help reduce the GMO contamination 

potential on your farm.

 Be certain that non-organic seeds that are used come with non-GMO verification from seed 

supplier.

 Seed growers and seed companies supplying organic seed to the organic community should 

follow protocols designed to intercept GE-contaminants and to deal with potential sources of 

contamination.

 Test at-risk seed, or get verification of clean seed from supplier, before planting.

 Avoid using bee pollinators that have been used in proximity to GMO fields and determine if 

neighboring feral hives exist that could carry GMO pollen to your farm.

 Know the life cycles of crops being planted, if the crops are self- or cross-pollinating, if the pollen 

is transported by wind or insects, etc.

 Isolate at-risk organic crops from GMO crops with suitable distances and/or planting timing, 

conferring with neighbors as needed.

 Control plants that could contaminate your crops, including volunteers, feral populations and 

wild relatives in proximity to your fields.

 Verify that all inputs, such as fertility and pest control materials, are non-GMO.

 Clean all equipment and facilities prior to use.

 Document equipment cleanout and keep records of all practices used to limit contamination.

 Inspect and clean storage facilities and be sure they are isolated from GMO storage.

 Avoid mixing during harvest, cleaning, storage, transport and sales.

 Be aware that GMO-laden dust from neighboring fields may require more thorough cleaning and 

 

1 High risk crops include alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, soy, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow summer squash.
protection of organic products than just removing GMO seeds from equipment.

 Know the organic regulations for excluding GMOs and know your certifier’s requirements

 Know your buyers’ GMO requirements and testing protocols.

 Utilize “Identity Preservation” systems as part of quality control system.

 Transportation: Clean and inspect trucks and trailers (including tarps and trailer covers). Require 

and keep verification records/affidavits. Know where product is coming from and where it is 

going, and ensure that transportation is clean and that records to support clean transportation 

are available from farm to buyer.

Best Management Practices for livestock

 Assess farm site and facilities for potential sources of contamination.

 Maintain separate, isolated facilities for feed storage of organic and GMO feeds (if a split 

operation).

 Inspect and clean storage facilities before use.

 Receiving practices: quarantine incoming product and do not release until all supporting nonGMO paperwork and labels are reviewed. Make sure the product received is the product 

approved in the OSP. Check lot numbers. Non-GMO documentation must be collected and 

maintained on-file. 

 Thoroughly clean and purge feed processing and handling equipment if used for GMO products.

 Document and maintain records of cleanout of equipment and facilities used for GMO products.

 Utilize “Identity Preservation” systems as part of quality control system.

 Transportation: Clean and inspect trucks and trailers (including tarps and trailer covers). Require 

and keep verification records/affidavits. Know where product is coming from and where it is 

going, and ensure that transportation is clean and that records to support clean transportation 

are available from farm to buyer.

Best Management Practices for handling

 Assess the site, facilities and organic products/inputs for possible sources of GMO contact.

 Receiving practices: quarantine incoming product and do not release until all supporting nonGMO paperwork and labels are reviewed. Make sure the product received is the product 

approved in the OSP. Check lot numbers. Non-GMO documentation must be collected and 

maintained on-file.

 All inputs must be traceable and must be of non-GMO source, even the nonorganic inputs 

contained in “made with organic” products.

 Organic and non-GMO materials must be strictly segregated from any GMO materials.

 Equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and purged if used for processing and handling GMO 

materials.

 Know which ingredients pose a GMO-contamination risk and what, if any, contamination levels 

are present in them.

 Determine minimum thresholds of GMO contamination for rejecting inputs in at-risk inputs.

 Create quality assurance and quality control procedures and practices for traceability, 

segregation, sampling and testing lots of inputs for GMO content, with adequate training of 

personnel to assure routine adherence to those procedures and practices.

 Utilize “Identity Preservation” systems as part of quality control system.

 Transportation: Clean and inspect trucks and trailers (including tarps and trailer covers). Require 

and keep verification records/affidavits. Know where product is coming from and where it is 

going, and ensure that transportation is clean and that records to support clean transportation 
are available from farm to buyer.

The Role of ACAs and Oversight

o On-site inspections (observation), review of the OSP and records, and periodic testing verify that 

farmers and handlers are following their organic system plan and that the measures described 

are effective.

o Role of testing (by ACAs) as a tool for verifying adequate contact prevention measures 

 Certifying agents may conduct residue testing to determine if these preventive practices are 

adequate to avoid contact with substances such as prohibited pesticides, antibiotics, and 

GMOs

 If GMOs are suspected or detected, certifiers must conduct an investigation to determine if 

a violation of organic farming or processing standards occurred.

 Note: Certifiers may need additional guidance from NOP on GMO testing (sampling 

procedures, testing options, choosing labs). Guidance is also needed to address positive 

results given that there aren’t specific threshold levels in the USDA organic regulations. See 

Appendix A

o Any certified organic operation found to use GMOs may face enforcement actions, including loss 

of certification and financial penalties.

Subcommittee Vote:

Motion to accept the Prevention Strategy Guidance for Excluded Methods in Crops and Handling 

Proposal 

Motion by: Francis Thicke

Seconded by: Zea Sonnabend

Additional Discussion: none

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

Sources/References

Riddle, Jim 2012. GMO Contamination Prevention - What Does it Take? University of Minnesota 

Southwest Research and Outreach Center.

OSGATA, 2014. Protecting Organic Seed Integrity. http://www.osgata.org/organic-seed-integrity/

Non-GMO Project Standard, 2013. Non GMO Project. 

http://www.nongmoproject.org/?attachment_id=8561

USDA National Organic Program - http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

Blue River Hybrids - www.blueriverorgseed.com/docs/PuraMaize-Fact Sheet.pdf

The Organic Center - http://www.organic-center.org

USDA/APHIS Biotech Regulatory Services (BRS) - http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/
Appendix A

Guidance and training for ACAs on GMO testing

On November 9, 2012, NOP published a Final Rule on Periodic Residue Testing. The rule clarifies a 

provision of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 and the regulations issued that require 

periodic residue testing of organically produced agricultural products by ACAs. NOP received several 

comments regarding types of residues that would be considered acceptable targets for testing under the 

rule. Four commenters requested clarification on testing for GMOs.

NOP responded by saying that it does not intend for the testing conducted under section 205.670 to be 

limited to pesticides residues. Under the existing regulations, certifying agents have the flexibility to test 

for a range of prohibited materials and excluded methods, including, but not limited to, pesticides, 

hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs. 

Given the regulatory requirements and NOP clarification, ACAs are required to test if there is reason to 

believe that an organic product has come into contact with GMOs. ACAs may also test for GMOs under 

the periodic residue testing requirements. To date, however, NOP has not issued any instruction or 

guidance on GMO testing.

The Materials/GMO Subcommittee could draft a recommendation to NOP to create guidance and 

provide training to ACAs on conducting GMO sampling and testing under the residue-testing rule. 

Providing NOP with a recommendation that includes further guidance on testing falls directly under the 

specific responsibilities outlined in the OFPA starting at section 2119(k):

5. PRODUCT RESIDUE TESTING.—The Board shall advise the Secretary concerning the testing of 

organically produced agricultural products for residues caused by unavoidable residual 

environmental contamination.

Although NOP guidance on pesticide residue testing is available and USDA resources for GMO testing in 

organic feed do exist, further guidance on GMO testing of other crops for human consumption is greatly 

needed. It is extremely important that guidance offer clear and consistent sampling and testing 

protocols so ACAs may accurately assess the efficacy of an organic operation’s system for ensuring that 

GMOs do not come in contact with organic product. Testing is one of the most definite and effective 

tools ACAs can use to evaluate whether an organic operation has adequate measures in place to prevent 

commingling with non-organic GMO crops as well as intentional or unintentional contact with GMOs.

Approved by C. Reuben (Calvin) Walker, Subcommittee Chair, to transmit to NOSB August 25, 2015