Using non-organic ingredients
Can I use non-organic ingredients in my product?
Yes, in certain cases with specific documentation. The USDA National Organic Program allows for a limited number of non-organic ingredients to be used in organic labeled products, if the:
- Ingredient is a listed, acceptable commercially non-available restricted ingredient
- Ingredient was not produced using organic excluded methods
- Ingredient is allowed per the National List
What records do I need for allowable non-organic ingredients?
To start, submit all non-organic ingredients to OTCO for approval prior to use, including the manufacturer’s full list of ingredients and/or processing aids that went into creating the ingredient. You must also submit a Non-Organic Ingredient Declaration (NOID) to ensure the ingredient was not produced using organic excluded methods.
A few exceptions include:
- If your non-organic ingredient has commercial availability restrictions…
You will need to demonstrate an organic version is unavailable through the completion of a Commercial Availability Form. - If your non-organic ingredient is a natural flavor…
You must submit a Natural Flavor Questionnaire (in place of a NOID), and verify it is produced using only approved methods or following restrictions per the organic requirements. Additionally, use of non-organic natural flavors requires a Commercial Availability Form (see March 2019 Notice). - If your non-organic ingredient is a nutrient, vitamin or mineral…
You will complete the Declaration for Nutrient Vitamins and Minerals in place of the NOID, as well as verification it is produced using only approved methods. - If your non-organic ingredient is a multi-ingredient product (e.g., vitamins)…
You must submit a manufacturer specification sheet listing all ingredients found in the ingredient, as well as any processing methods used to produce it.
Forms & Documents
CommercialAvailabilityForm
Non-Organic Ingredient Declaration
Declaration Nutrient Vitamin Mineral
Natural Flavor Questionnaire
AgVsNonAgQues
Download the above and submit it to your client service team.