Resources

Organic Materials Lists

Generic Materials List, Brand Name Products List, fourth editions, Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). OMRI offers recommendations and opinions on the acceptability or unacceptability of generic materials and specific (brand name) products used in organic production, processing, and handling. The lists are compiled by OMRI staff and other industry experts and are available to individuals, organizations, companies, certifiers, and state/province programs as part of an annual subscription that includes updates and industry news. Brand Name Products List is also available on-line at www.omri.org. The lists are useful for organic certifiers auditing organic farming and processing practices under provisions of the new national organic standards. Generic Materials List contains information on more than 700 substances, including: status (allowed, regulated, or prohibited); class (fertilizer, livestock health care, processing production aids); restrictions or qualifications; applicable recommendations by the U.S. National Organic Standards Board; comparison of status of crops and processing materials lists from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and OMRI. Brand Name Products List includes more than 450 brand-name materials evaluated using OMRI’s own standards, cross-referenced to generic materials. The USDA released its final version of national organic standards in December 2000, and USDA’s National Organic Program will become the oversight agency for the organic industry. Before summer, OMRI will review the rule and make changes to the OMRI 2001 lists, if any, that will be needed to comply with the federal program, which is expected to have an implementation deadline by fall 2002. To subscribe to the OMRI lists or to apply for a product review, contact OMRI, Box 11558, Eugene, OR 97440 USA, (541) 343-7600, Fax (541)343-8971, info@omri.org, www.omri.org.