The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes the maximum allowed levels of pesticides, or EPA tolerances, which may be present on foods. Although most EPA-registered pesticides are prohibited in organic production, there can be inadvertent or indirect contact from neighboring conventional farms or shared handling facilities. As long as the operator hasn’t directly applied prohibited pesticides and has documented efforts to minimize exposure to them, USDA organic regulations allow residues of prohibited pesticides up to 5 percent of the EPA tolerance.
Impact to the Produce Industry
All organic produce must be protected from prohibited substances (such as synthetic fertilizers and boxes treated with fungicides) and methods (such as genetic engineering and irradiation) from the field to the point of final sale. Additionally, organic products must be kept separate from nonorganic products throughout their lifecycle. Individuals handling organic produce must implement practices to prevent commingling and contamination, and ensure organic products are displayed appropriately at the retail level.
The USDA is committed to the integrity of organic products and supports the continued growth of organic agriculture in the United States. For additional information about how USDA oversees organic products or to receive email alerts on standards development, fraudulent certificates, USDA services, or other information related to organic agriculture, visit www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
