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AnnouncementJuly 11, 2013
Greetings!

The National Organic Program (NOP) is pleased to announce a new fact sheet summarizing allowed and prohibited substances in organic production and handling.  

Additionally, USDA invites you to help guide its efforts in an important focus area: water. 

Substances Fact Sheet

Organic standards are designed to allow most natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting most synthetic substances.

The National List--part of the organic regulations--lists the exceptions to this basic rule, as well as the non-organic substances allowed in processed organic products.

Understanding allowed and prohibited substances can be a learning process for prospective or new organic operations. This new resource summarizes allowed and prohibited substances for organic:

  1. Crop producers
  2. Livestock producers
  3. Processors, separated by labeling category

View Substances Fact Sheet 

Learn more about the National List 

Help USDA Address Water Issues

Do you have ideas on what USDA should be doing to address water issues in agriculture?  

This program will focus on developing solutions for water management that link food, water, climate change, energy, and environmental issues.  

Funding will be used to develop and transfer management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality.  

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is particularly interested in input on how they can achieve the most impact, within budget constraints, in the early years of this new challenge area.

Learn more and submit written comments
Deadline: July 30, 2013 at 5pm EST   

Join or make a short presentation via webinar
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time
Request 5-minute presentation slot 

On July 16th, to join webinar:

  1. Call 1-888-858-2144, participant code 1512861
  2. Join webinar as "guest"  

Questions? Call Terri Joya at (202) 401-1282   

About the National Organic Program (NOP)

The NOP facilitates trade and ensures integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. The NOP is part of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Learn more.

About the NOP Organic Insider

The NOP Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of NOP functions, including organic standards, accreditation and international activities, compliance and enforcement, the National Organic Standards Board, training events, and the Cost Share program.

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