Emergency treatments for livestock

On rare occasions, federal or state authorities put into effect emergency pest or disease treatment programs that mandate the use of materials that are prohibited for use in organic production.

What happens to my certification if I’m required to use a prohibited material?

Livestock treated with a prohibited substance due to a federal or state emergency pest or disease treatment program, or any product derived from treated livestock, may not be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

When can I sell milk or milk-based products as organic if dairy livestock were treated due to an emergency mandate?

Beginning 12 months after the last date that the dairy animal was treated with the prohibited substance, milk or milk products may be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

Is offspring of mammalian livestock considered organic if treated due to an emergency mandate?

Provided the mammalian breeder stock was not in the last third of gestation when treated with the prohibited substance, offspring of may be considered organic.

What records are needed for a federal or state emergency treatment program?

We request as much information as possible prior to implementation of a federal or state emergency treatment program. Records may include:

• Copy of the federal or state emergency program mandate
• Info regarding the required material for application
• Whether or not an alternative approved organic material or method is available
• Explanation for why an alternative cannot be used
• Locations and schedule for applications
• Information such as animal life stage, etc.