Updated June 17, 2010

Formal Recommendation by the 

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 

to the National Organic Program (NOP)

Date: April 29, 2011

Subject: Lignin Sulfonate § 205.601(l) relisting for Sunset 2012

Chair: Tracy Miedema

 

 

The NOSB hereby recommends to the NOP the following: 

Rulemaking Action X 

Guidance Statement 

Other 

Statement of the Recommendation (Including Recount of Vote): 

The Board recommends the continued listing of Lignin Sulfonate on 205.601 (l) 

As floating agents in post harvest handling.

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation (including consistency with 

OFPA and NOP): 

There were concerns during the last round of sunset for this material about its 

fate in waste water when it is used as a flotation agent. On February 15, 2011 

the Crops Committee addressed this concern with an annotation to relist lignin 

sulfonate on 205.601 (l) with the amended annotation: As floating agents in 

postharvest handling, subject to wastewater disposal documentation in the 

Organic Systems Plan to prevent adverse impact to aquatic life. It was also 

noted that there is a duplicate listing as a flotation agent in (j) As plant or soil 

amendments, so the Crops Committee is recommending relisting lignin 

sulfonate as plant or soil amendments with the annotation change: chelating 

agent, dust suppressant (see separate recommendation). The Crops 

Committee considered new public comment in reviewing this material, finding 

that existing regulatory oversight is adequate to the task of monitoring 

wastewater disposal concerns and recommended relisting this material as is. 

Committee Vote:

Moved: John Foster Second: Steve Demuri

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

Crops Committee 

2012 Sunset Proposed Recommendation 

Lignin sulfonate 

April 29, 2011 

List: §205.601 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. 

(l) As floating agents in postharvest handling. 

(1) Lignin sulfonate. 

Committee Summary 

There were concerns during the last round of sunset for this material about its fate in waste 

water when it is used as a flotation agent. On February 15, 2011 the Crops Committee 

addressed this concern with an annotation to relist lignin sulfonate on 205.601 (l) with the 

amended annotation: As floating agents in postharvest handling, subject to wastewater 

disposal documentation in the Organic Systems Plan to prevent adverse impact to aquatic life. 

It was also noted that there is a duplicate listing as a flotation agent in (j) As plant or soil 

amendments, so the Crops Committee is recommending relisting lignin sulfonate as plant or 

soil amendments with the annotation change: chelating agent, dust suppressant. 

The Crops Committee considered new public comment in reviewing this material, finding that 

existing regulatory oversight is adequate to the task of monitoring wastewater disposal 

concerns and did not reconsider the motion for the listing of this material as a crop or soil input. 

Committee Recommendation 

Relist lignin sulfonate on § 205.601(l): As floating agents in postharvest handling (1) Lignin sulfonate 

Committee Vote 

Motion: Tina Ellor Second: Steve Demuri 

Yes: 7 No: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0