Formal Recommendation by the 

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 

to the National Organic Program (NOP)

 

Date: October 28, 2010 

Subject: Sunset review of chlorine materials on National List 

Chair: Daniel G. Giacomini 

 

 

The NOSB hereby recommends to the NOP the following: 

Rulemaking Action X 

Guidance Statement 

Other 

 

Statement of the Recommendation (Including Recount of Vote): 

Chlorine compounds are the most common equipment and food contact 

sanitizers used in the food processing and handling and are recognized by the 

FDA as being appropriate for their intended use. The NOSB makes the 

following recommendation to re-list chlorine materials on 7 CFR §205.605(b): 

Chlorine materials—disinfecting and sanitizing food contact surfaces, Except, 

That, residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum 

residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Calcium 

hypochlorite; Chlorine dioxide; and Sodium hypochlorite). 

The NOSB unanimously passed the motion to relist chlorine materials as 

stated by a vote of 14-0. 

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation (including consistency with 

OFPA and NOP): 

 

The recommendation to re-list chlorine materials in 7 CFR §205.605(b) was 

made in accordance with the National Organic Program and the NOSB’s Policy 

& Procedures Manual. The substance is consistent with OFPA 1990 and NOP 

regulations and evaluation criteria. 

 

NOSB Vote: 

Moved: John Foster Second: Tracy Miedema

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

Handling Committee 

Sunset Recommendation – 2012 

Chlorine Materials 

October 28, 2010 

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 

Chlorine materials 

Committee Summary 

Along with fluorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine, chlorine is a member of the halogen 

series that forms the group 17 of the periodic table—the most reactive group of 

elements. It combines readily with nearly all elements. Chlorine is a member of the saltforming halogen series and is extracted from chlorides through oxidation often by 

electrolysis. With metals, it forms salts called chlorides. As the chloride ion, Cl−

, it is also 

the most abundant dissolved ion in ocean water. In nature, chlorine is found primarily as 

the chloride ion, a component of the salt that is deposited in the earth or dissolved in the 

oceans — about 1.9% of the mass of seawater is chloride ions. Even higher 

concentrations of chloride are found in the Dead Sea and in underground brine 

deposits. In industry, elemental chlorine is usually produced by the electrolysis of 

sodium chloride dissolved in water. 

Chlorine compounds are the most common equipment and food contact sanitizers used 

in the food processing and handling and are recognized by the FDA as being 

appropriate for their intended use. The health and environmental hazards associated 

with its manufacture and use are well researched and are mitigated through worker 

protection protocols, Good Manufacturing Practices, and oversight by local, state and 

federal agencies. The food processing community, pre-NOP certification programs, and 

past NOSB decisions have determined that—coupled with these mitigating features—

the proven efficacy and reliability of these chlorine materials in support of food safety 

concerns outweighs the risks. 

Federal register notice of the sunset of chlorine materials brought forth no public 

comments against re-listing. Several commenters supported re-listing this material. 

Review of the original recommendations, historical documents, and public comments 

does not reveal unacceptable risks to the environment, human, or animal health as a 

result of the use or manufacture of these materials, though there are various health 

hazards associated with their use as noted above. There is no new information 

contradicting the original recommendation which were the basis for the previous NOSB 

decisions to list and re-list these materials. 
The Handling Committee anticipates that in the near future the NOP will provide to the 

industry further guidance and clarification regarding the use of these materials. 

Committee Recommendation(s) 

The handling committee recommends the renewal of the following substance in this use 

category as published in the final rule: 

Chlorine materials—disinfecting and sanitizing food contact surfaces, Except, That, 

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

limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Calcium hypochlorite; Chlorine dioxide; and 

Sodium hypochlorite). 

Committee Vote 

Motion: John Foster Second: Steve DeMuri 

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