National Organic Standards Board

Handling Subcommittee Petitioned Material Proposal

Ethiopian Pepper

July 17, 2018

Summary of Petition

The petition requests to add non-organic Ethiopian pepper to the National List at §205.606, and to allow 

its substitution when an organic alternative is unavailable.

Summary of Review:

Specific Uses of the Substance:

The petitioners noted that they use Ethiopian pepper, Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich, in their hot

sauces: African Hot Pepper Sauce; Chipotle Pepper Sauce; and Chili Pepper Sauce. Ethiopian pepper is 

quite pungent and slightly bitter, comparable to a mixture of cubeb pepper and nutmeg. This fruit is 

often smoked during the drying process, resulting in an attractive smoky-spicy flavor. No other spices 

give the same bitter, yet aromatic, flavor.

Action of the Substance:

X. aethiopica is a slim, tall tree of about 60–70 cm in diameter that can reach up to 15 to 30 m tall, with 

a straight stem and a slightly stripped or smooth bark. The fruits are rather small and look like twisted 

bean-pods. When dry, the fruit turns dark brown, cylindrical, 2.5 to 5 cm long and 4 to 6 mm thick. The 

contours of the seeds are visible from outside. Each pod contains 5 to 8 kidney shaped seeds of 

approximately 5 mm in length. The hull is aromatic, but not the seeds.

Manufacture:

X. aethiopica is native to the lowland rainforest and moist fringe forest in the savanna zones of Africa, 

but largely located in West, Central and Southern Africa. These trees are widely distributed in the humid 

forest zones of West Africa especially along rivers in the drier area of the region. In tropical and 

highlands of Africa (from Ethiopia to Ghana), both species X. aethiopica and X. striata occur and are used 

for local cooking. In South America, a third species, X. aromatica (burro pepper), has found similar 

applications among Brazilian Indios. The tree prefers high rainfall areas and well-drained soils. While X. 

aethiopica thrives in the forest regions, the tree can also be found in transitional zones. Loamy and 

sandy loamy soils are conducive for the cultivation of the plant. The plant can successfully be 

intercropped with other staple food items in the first four years. Propagation is easily accomplished by 

seeds. Seedlings are transplanted to the field within three to five months after sowing. The plant grows 

rapidly the first three years. Trees are planted eight meters apart. In West Africa, the tree flowers twice 

per year, in March to July and in October to December. Fruiting takes place in December to March and 

June to September. Harvesting time runs from February to May and again from August to October. The 

fruits are harvested with the inflorescence. After picking, the fruits are sun- dried for four to seven days. 

After drying, the fruits are removed from the inflorescence stalks. Fruits should not be dried on the 

ground, but on a protective cloth, net, screen or shelving system to minimize any microbial 

contamination. Typical fruit yields are about two to three metric tons per annum per hectare.

Category 1: Classification 

1. Substance is for: X Handling _______ Livestock

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2. For HANDLING and LIVESTOCK use:

a. Is the substance X Agricultural or _______ Non-Agricultural?

 Describe reasoning for this decision using NOP 5033-2 as a guide:

The petition is for Ethiopian peppers as an ingredient in a product. There are no chemical processes 

involved that would change its structure as an Ethiopian pepper. 

Category 2: Adverse Impacts 

1. What is the potential for the substance to have detrimental chemical interactions with other 

materials used in organic farming systems? [§6518(m)(1)]

There is little potential for the substance to have detrimental chemical interactions with other 

materials used in organic farming systems.

2. What is the toxicity and mode of action of the substance and of its breakdown products or any 

contaminants, and their persistence and areas of concentration in the environment? 

[§6518(m)(2)]

There is little information about toxicity or mode of action of the substance and of its 

breakdown products or any contaminants, and their persistence and areas of concentration in 

the environment.

3. Describe the probability of environmental contamination during manufacture, use, misuse or 

disposal of such substance? [§6518(m)(3)]

There is little information regarding environmental contamination during manufacture, use, 

misuse, or disposal of Ethiopian peppers. 

4. Discuss the effect of the substance on human health. [§6517 (c)(1)(A)(i); §6517 (c)(2)(A)(i); 

§6518(m)(4)].

There are instances of Ethiopian pepper powder being rejected by the EU for having unsafe 

levels of aflatoxins and ochratoxins during testing at entrance laboratories in European 

countries.

5. Discuss any effects the substance may have on biological and chemical interactions in the 

agroecosystem, including the physiological effects of the substance on soil organisms (including 

the salt index and solubility of the soil), crops and livestock. [§6518(m)(5)] 

There are no effects on biological and chemical interactions in the agroecosystem, including the 

physiological effects of the substance on soil organisms.

6. Are there any adverse impacts on biodiversity? (§205.200) 

No, there are no known adverse impacts on biodiversity.

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Category 3: Alternatives/Compatibility 

1. Are there alternatives to using the substance? Evaluate alternative practices as well as nonsynthetic and synthetic available materials. [§6518(m)(6)]

There are no known substitutes for Ethiopian pepper.

Category 5: Additional criteria for agricultural substances used in handling (review of commercial 

unavailability of organic sources): 

1. Is the comparative description as to why the non-organic form of the material /substance is 

necessary for use in organic handling provided? 

The petition stated there is no organic form of Ethiopian pepper on the market. However, there is 

a possibility of wild crop certification of Ethiopian pepper that has not been fully explored. The 

petitioner described the Ethiopian pepper as “de facto organic” in that the Ethiopian pepper is 

hard to grow commercially because it is grown in the wild. The petitioner stated, “The Ethiopian 

peppers grow in the lowland rainforests in the savanna zones of West Africa. Because of the 

unique environment in which this wild-crafted plant lives, it is not something that lends itself to 

cultivation by organic growers. It is a plant that is by nature “de facto organic. We have contacted 

farmers about growing this in such a way that it could be certified. However, the growing 

conditions necessary combined with the small volume of use make it impossible to find a 

commercial grower for this substance.”

2. Does the current and historical industry information, research, or evidence provided explain how 

or why the material /substance cannot be obtained organically in the appropriate form to fulfill an 

essential function in a system of organic handling?

No, there is little to no current or historical industry information, research, or evidence provided to

explain how or why the material/substance cannot be obtained organically in the appropriate form 

to fulfill an essential function in a system of organic handling.

3. Does the current and historical industry information, research, or evidence provided explain how 

or why the material /substance cannot be obtained organically in the appropriate quality to fulfill 

an essential function in a system of organic handling?

There is no current and historical industry information, research, or evidence provided to explain 

how or why the material/substance cannot be obtained organically in the appropriate quality to 

fulfill an essential function in a system or organic handling.

4. Does the current and historical industry information, research, or evidence provided explain how 

or why the material /substance cannot be obtained organically in the appropriate quantity to fulfill 

an essential function in a system of organic handling?

There is little current or historical industry information, research, or evidence provided explaining 

how or why the Ethiopian substance cannot be obtained organically in the appropriate quantity to 

fulfill an essential function in a system of organic handling.

5. Does the industry information about unavailability include (but is not limited to) the following?:

Regions of production (including factors such as climate and number of regions);

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Ethiopian pepper is native to the rainforests of West Africa.

a. Number of suppliers and amount produced;

Number of suppliers and amount produced is not readily available.

b. Current and historical supplies related to weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and 

droughts that may temporarily halt production or destroy crops or supplies;

No information is available for weather events.

c. Trade-related issues such as evidence of hoarding, war, trade barriers, or civil unrest that 

may temporarily restrict supplies; or

At the end of 2016, Ethiopian pepper powder was returned to Ethiopia from European 

markets when it was found to have unsafe levels of aflatoxins and ochratoxins during 

testing at entrance laboratories in European countries. This has affected supply. 

d. Other issues which may present a challenge to a consistent supply?

6. In balancing the responses to the criteria in Categories 2, 3 and 5, is the substance compatible with 

a system of sustainable agriculture [§6518(m)(7)] and compatible with organic handling? (see 

NOSB Recommendation, Compatibility with Organic Production and Handling, April 2004) 

Based on the information provided in the petition, it appears that Ethiopian pepper is could be 

compatible with a system of sustainable agriculture and could be compatible with organic handling. 

Ethiopian pepper is an agricultural product grown in more than 20 African countries spanning from 

Ethiopia to Sierra Leone. More information is needed about the supply of the pepper and the 

production methods used in the various supply chains to make an affirmative determination of 

compatibility. 

Classification Motion: 

Motion to classify Ethiopian pepper as agricultural 

Motion by: Lisa de Lima

Seconded by: A-dae Romero-Briones 

Yes: 4 No: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 3 Recuse: 0 

National List Motion: 

Motion to add Ethiopian pepper at §205.606 

Motion by: Lisa de Lima

Seconded by: A-dae Romero-Briones 

 Yes: 2 No: 2 Abstain: 0 Absent: 3 Recuse: 0

Approved by Lisa de Lima, Subcommittee Chair, to transmit to NOSB, August 24, 2018

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