[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 241 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78150-78154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31380]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 241 / Wednesday, December 16, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 78150]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[Document Number AMS-NOP-15-0052; NOP-15-12]
RIN 0581-AD39


National Organic Program (NOP); Sunset 2016 Amendments to the 
National List

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would address recommendations submitted to 
the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic 
Standards Board (NOSB) following their April 2015 meeting. These 
recommendations pertain to the 2016 Sunset Review of substances on the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and 
Prohibited Substances (National List). Consistent with the 
recommendations from the NOSB, this proposed rule would remove five 
non-organic nonagricultural substances from the National List for use 
in organic handling: Egg white lysozyme, cyclohexylamine, 
diethylaminoethanol, octadecylamine, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate.

DATES: Comments must be received by February 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may comment on the proposed rule using 
the following procedures:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Robert Pooler, Standards Division, National Organic 
Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2642-So., Ag 
Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the docket 
number AMS-NOP-15-0052; NOP-15-12, and/or Regulatory Information Number 
(RIN) 0581-AD39 for this rulemaking. You should clearly indicate the 
topic and section number of this proposed rule to which your comment 
refers. You should clearly indicate whether you support the action 
being proposed for the substances in this proposed rule. You should 
clearly indicate the reason(s) for your position. You should also 
supply information on alternative management practices, where 
applicable, that support alternatives to the proposed action. You 
should also offer any recommended language change(s) that would be 
appropriate to your position. Please include relevant information and 
data to support your position (e.g. scientific, environmental, 
manufacturing, industry, impact information, etc.). Only relevant 
material supporting your position should be submitted. All comments 
received and any relevant background documents will be posted without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Document: For access to the document and to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Comments submitted in response to this proposed rule will also be 
available for viewing in person at USDA-AMS, National Organic Program, 
Room 2642-South Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC, 
from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday 
(except official Federal holidays). Persons wanting to visit the USDA 
South Building to view comments received in response to this proposed 
rule are requested to make an appointment in advance by calling (202) 
720-3252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pooler, Standards Division, 
email: [email protected], Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 
205-7808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The National Organic Program (NOP) is authorized by the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522). 
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers the NOP. 
Final regulations implementing the NOP, also referred to as the USDA 
organic regulations, were published December 21, 2000 (65 FR 80548), 
and became effective on October 21, 2002. Through these regulations, 
the AMS oversees national standards for the production, handling, and 
labeling of organically produced agricultural products. Since becoming 
effective, the USDA organic regulations have been frequently amended, 
mostly for changes to the National List in 7 CFR 205.601-205.606.
    This National List identifies the synthetic substances that may be 
used and the nonsynthetic substances that may not be used in organic 
production. The National List also identifies synthetic, nonsynthetic 
nonagricultural, and nonorganic agricultural substances that may be 
used in organic handling. The OFPA and the USDA organic regulations, as 
indicated in Sec.  205.105, specifically prohibit the use of any 
synthetic substance in organic production and handling unless the 
synthetic substance is on the National List. Section 205.105 also 
requires that any nonorganic agricultural substance and any 
nonsynthetic nonagricultural substance used in organic handling appear 
on the National List.
    As stipulated by the OFPA, recommendations to propose amendment of 
the National List are developed by the NOSB, operating in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2 et seq.), to 
assist in the evaluation of substances to be used or not used in 
organic production and handling, and to advise the Secretary on the 
USDA organic regulations. The OFPA also requires a sunset review of all 
substances included on the National List within five years of their 
addition to or renewal on the list. If a listed substance is not 
reviewed by the NOSB and renewed by the USDA within the five year 
period, its allowance or prohibition on the National List is no longer 
in effect. Under the authority of the OFPA, the Secretary can amend the 
National List through rulemaking based upon proposed amendments 
recommended by the NOSB.
    The NOSB's recommendations to continue existing exemptions and 
prohibitions include consideration of public comments and applicable 
supporting evidence that express a continued need for the use or 
prohibition of the substance(s) as required by the OFPA. 
Recommendations to either continue or discontinue an authorized 
exempted synthetic substance (7 U.S.C. 6517(c)(1))

[[Page 78151]]

are determined by the NOSB's evaluation of technical information, 
public comments, and supporting evidence that demonstrate that the 
substance is: (a) Harmful to human health or the environment; (b) no 
longer necessary for organic production due to the availability of 
alternative wholly nonsynthetic substitute products or practices; or 
(c) inconsistent with organic farming and handling practices.
    In accordance with the sunset review process published in the 
Federal Register on September 16, 2013 (78 FR 61154), this proposed 
rule would amend the National List to reflect recommendations submitted 
to the Secretary by the NOSB on April 30, 2015, to amend the National 
List to remove five substances allowed as ingredients in or on 
processed products labeled as ``organic.'' The exemptions of each 
substance appearing on the National List for use in organic production 
and handling are evaluated by the NOSB using the evaluation criteria 
specified on the OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6517-6518).

II. Overview of Proposed Amendments

Nonrenewals

    After considering public comments and supporting documents, the 
NOSB determined that one substance exemption on Sec.  205.605(a) and 
four substance exemptions on Sec.  205.605(b) of the National List are 
no longer necessary for organic handling. AMS has reviewed and proposes 
to accept the five NOSB recommendations for removal. Based upon these 
NOSB recommendations, this action proposes to amend the National List 
to remove the exemptions for egg white lysozyme, cyclohexylamine, 
diethylaminoethanol, octadecylamine, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate.
Egg White Lysozyme
    The USDA organic regulations include an exemption on the National 
List for egg white lysozyme as an ingredient for use in organic 
processed products at Sec.  205.605(a) as follows: Egg white lysozyme 
(CAS # 9001-63-2). In 2004, egg white lysozyme was petitioned for 
addition to Sec.  205.605 because it was considered to be an essential 
processing aid/preservative for controlling bacteria that survived the 
pasteurization process of milk that is used for cheese manufacture. As 
recommended by the NOSB, egg white lysozyme was added to the National 
List on September 12, 2006 (71 FR 53299). As required by OFPA, the NOSB 
recommended the renewal of egg white lysozyme during their 2011 sunset 
review which was renewed by the Secretary on August 3, 2011 (76 FR 
46595). The NOSB completed their most recent sunset review of the 
exemption of egg white lysozyme at their April 2015 meeting. Two 
notices of the public meetings on the 2016 sunset review with request 
for comments were published in Federal Register on September 8, 2014 
(79 FR 53162) and on March 12, 2015 (80 FR 12975). Their purpose was to 
notify the public that the egg white lysozyme exemption discussed in 
this proposed rule would expire on September 12, 2016, if not reviewed 
by the NOSB and renewed by the Secretary. During their sunset review 
deliberation, the NOSB considered written comments received prior to 
and during the public meetings on all substance exemptions included in 
the 2016 sunset review. These written comments can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for the document ID numbers: AMS-NOP-
14-0063 (October 2014 public meeting) and AMS-NOP-15-0002 (April 2015 
public meeting). The NOSB also considered oral comments received during 
these public meetings which are included in the meeting transcripts 
available on the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. During 
their sunset review of egg white lysozyme the NOSB considered two 
technical reports on enzymes that were requested by and developed for 
the NOSB in 2011 and 2003, which are also available for review in the 
petitioned substance database on the NOP Web site.
    The NOSB received no public comments supporting the continued need 
for the use of egg white lysozyme in organic processed products. Based 
upon the lack of public comments requesting the continued use of egg 
white lysozyme and supportive documents, the NOSB determined that the 
exemption for egg white lysozyme on the National List in Sec.  
205.605(a) is no longer necessary or essential for organic processed 
products. Subsequently, the NOSB recommended removal of egg white 
lysozyme from the National List at their April 2015 public meeting.
    AMS accepts the NOSB's recommendation on removing egg white 
lysozyme from the National List. This proposed rule would amend Sec.  
205.605(a) by removing the substance exemption for egg white lysozyme. 
This amendment is proposed to be effective on egg white lysozyme's 
current sunset date, September 12, 2016.
Cyclohexylamine
    The USDA organic regulations include an exemption on the National 
List for cyclohexylamine as a processing aid for use in processed 
products at Sec.  205.605(b) as follows: Cyclohexylamine (CAS # 108-91-
8)--for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging 
sterilization. In December 2000, cyclohexylamine was petitioned for 
addition to Sec.  205.605 for use as a boiler water additive in steam 
production for food processing facilities. As recommended by the NOSB, 
cyclohexylamine was added to the National List on September 12, 2006 
(71 FR 53299). As required by OFPA, the NOSB recommended the renewal of 
cyclohexylamine during their 2011 sunset review. The Secretary accepted 
the NOSB's recommendation and published a notice renewing the 
cyclohexylamine exemption on the National List on August 3, 2011 (76 FR 
46595). Subsequently, the exemption for cyclohexylamine as included on 
the National List was considered during the NOSB's 2016 sunset review. 
Two notices of the NOSB's public meetings with request for comments 
were published in Federal Register on September 8, 2014 (79 FR 53162) 
and on March 12, 2015 (80 FR 12975). They notified the public that the 
cyclohexylamine exemption discussed in this proposed rule would expire 
on September 12, 2016, if not reviewed by the NOSB and renewed by the 
Secretary. During their 2016 sunset review deliberation, the NOSB 
considered written comments received prior to and during the public 
meetings on all substance exemptions included in the 2016 sunset 
review. These written comments can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for the document ID numbers: AMS-NOP-
14-0063 (October 2014 public meeting) and AMS-NOP-15-0002 (April 2015 
public meeting). The NOSB also considered oral comments received during 
these public meetings which are included in the meeting transcripts 
available on the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. During 
their 2016 sunset review, the NOSB considered a technical report on 
cyclohexylamine that was requested by and developed for the NOSB in 
2001, which is available for review in the petitioned substance 
database on the NOP Web site.
    Within the September 2014 and April 2015 meeting notices, the NOSB 
requested information on the continued use of cyclohexylamine as a 
boiler water additive. Public comment in response to these requests 
provided the NOSB with limited information in support of the continued 
need for the use of cyclohexylamine as a boiler water

[[Page 78152]]

additive in the production of organic processed products. As a result 
of the lack of support for the continued use of cyclohexylamine and the 
NOSB determination that the exemption for cyclohexylamine on Sec.  
205.605(b) is no longer necessary or essential for organic processed 
products, the NOSB recommended cyclohexylamine be removed from the 
National List at their April 2015 public meeting.
    AMS accepts the NOSB's recommendation on removing cyclohexylamine 
from the National List. This proposed rule would amend Sec.  205.605(b) 
by removing the substance exemption for cyclohexylamine. This amendment 
is proposed to be effective on cyclohexylamine's current sunset date, 
September 12, 2016.
Diethylaminoethanol
    The USDA organic regulations include an exemption on the National 
List for diethylaminoethanol as a processing aid for use in organic 
processed products at Sec.  205.605(b) as follows: Diethylaminoethanol 
(CAS # 100-37-8)--for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging 
sterilization. In December 2000, diethylaminoethanol was petitioned for 
addition onto Sec.  205.605 for use as a boiler water additive in steam 
production for food processing facilities. As recommended by the NOSB, 
diethylaminoethanol was added to the National List on September 12, 
2006 (71 FR 53299). As required by OFPA, the NOSB recommended the 
renewal of diethylaminoethanol during their 2011 sunset review. The 
Secretary accepted the NOSB's recommendation and published a notice 
renewing the diethylaminoethanol exemption on the National List on 
August 3, 2011 (76 FR 46595). Subsequently, the exemption for 
diethylaminoethanol was considered during the NOSB's 2016 sunset 
review. For the 2016 sunset review, two notices of the public meetings 
with request for comments were published in Federal Register on 
September 8, 2014 (79 FR 53162) and on March 12, 2015 (80 FR 12975). 
Their purpose was to notify the public that the diethylaminoethanol 
exemption discussed in this proposed rule would expire on September 12, 
2016, if not reviewed by the NOSB and renewed by the Secretary. During 
their 2016 sunset review deliberation, the NOSB considered written 
comments received prior to and during the public meetings on all 
substance exemptions included in the 2016 sunset review. These written 
comments can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
the document ID numbers: AMS-NOP-14-0063 (October 2014 public meeting) 
and AMS-NOP-15-0002 (April 2015 public meeting). The NOSB also 
considered oral comments received during these public meetings which 
are included in the meeting transcripts available on the NOP Web site 
at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. In addition, during their 2016 sunset 
review, the NOSB considered a technical report on diethylaminoethanol 
that was requested by and developed for the NOSB in 2001, which is 
available for review in the petitioned substance database on the NOP 
Web site.
    Within the September 2014 and April 2015 public meeting notices, 
the NOSB requested information on the continued use of 
diethylaminoethanol as a boiler water additive. Public comment in 
response to these requests provided the NOSB with limited information 
in support of the continued need for the use of diethylaminoethanol as 
a boiler water additive in the production of organic processed 
products. As a result of the lack of support for the continued use of 
diethylaminoethanol and the NOSB determination that the exemption for 
diethylaminoethanol on Sec.  205.605(b) is no longer necessary or 
essential for organic processed products, the NOSB recommended 
diethylaminoethanol be removed from the National List at their April 
2015 meeting.
    AMS accepts the NOSB's recommendation on removing 
diethylaminoethanol's exemption from the National List. This proposed 
rule would amend Sec.  205.605(b) by removing the substance exemption 
for diethylaminoethanol. This amendment is proposed to be effective on 
diethylaminoethanol's current sunset date, September 12, 2016.
Octadecylamine
    The USDA organic regulations include an exemption on the National 
List for octadecylamine as a processing aid for use in organic 
processed products at Sec.  205.605(b) as follows: Octadecylamine (CAS 
# 124-30-1)--for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging 
sterilization. In December 2000, octadecylamine was petitioned for 
addition onto Sec.  205.605 for use as a boiler water additive in the 
steam production for food processing facilities. As recommended by the 
NOSB, octadecylamine was added to the National List on September 12, 
2006 (71 FR 53299). As required by OFPA, the NOSB recommended the 
renewal of octadecylamine during their 2011 sunset review. The 
Secretary accepted the NOSB's recommendation and published a notice 
renewing the octadecylamine exemption on the National List on August 3, 
2011 (76 FR 46595). Subsequently, the exemption for octadecylamine was 
considered during the NOSB's 2016 sunset review. For the 2016 sunset 
review, two notices of the public meetings with request for comments 
were published in Federal Register on September 8, 2014 (79 FR 53162) 
and on March 12, 2015 (80 FR 12975). Their purpose was to notify the 
public that the octadecylamine exemption discussed in this proposed 
rule would expire on September 12, 2016, if not reviewed by the NOSB 
and renewed by the Secretary. During their 2016 sunset review 
deliberation, the NOSB considered written comments received prior to 
and during the public meetings on all substance exemptions included in 
the 2016 sunset review. These written comments can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for the document ID numbers: AMS-NOP-
14-0063 (October 2014 public meeting) and AMS-NOP-15-0002 (April 2015 
public meeting). The NOSB also considered oral comments received during 
these public meetings which are included in the meeting transcripts 
available on the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. In 
addition, during their 2016 sunset review, the NOSB considered a 
technical report on octadecylamine that was requested by and developed 
for the NOSB in 2001, which is available for review in the petitioned 
substance database on the NOP Web site.
    Within the September 2014 and April 2015 public meeting notices, 
the NOSB requested information on the continued use of octadecylamine 
as a boiler water additive. Public comment in response to these 
requests provided the NOSB with limited information in support of the 
continued need for the use of octadecylamine as a boiler water additive 
in the production of organic processed products. As a result of the 
lack of support for the continued use of octadecylamine and the NOSB 
determination that the exemption for octadecylamine on Sec.  205.605(b) 
is no longer necessary or essential for organic processed products, the 
NOSB recommended octadecylamine be removed from the National List.
    AMS accepts the NOSB's recommendation on removing octadecylamine 
from the National List. This proposed rule would amend Sec.  205.605(b) 
by removing the substance exemption for octadecylamine. This amendment 
is proposed to be effective on egg white lysozyme's current sunset 
date, September 12, 2016.
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate
    The USDA organic regulations include an exemption on the National

[[Page 78153]]

List for tetrasodium pyrophosphate as an ingredient for use in organic 
processed products at Sec.  205.605(b) as follows: Tetrasodium 
pyrophosphate (CAS # 7722-88-5)--for use only in meat analog products. 
In December 2001, tetrasodium pyrophosphate was petitioned for addition 
onto Sec.  205.605 for use as an ingredient in organic food processing 
facilities. As recommended by the NOSB, tetrasodium pyrophosphate was 
added to the National List on September 12, 2006 (71 FR 53299). To 
implement OFPA requirements under the sunset process, the NOSB 
recommended the renewal of tetrasodium pyrophosphate during their 2011 
sunset review. The Secretary accepted the NOSB's recommendation and 
published a notice renewing the tetrasodium pyrophosphate exemption on 
the National List on August 3, 2011 (76 FR 46595). Subsequently, the 
exemption for tetrasodium pyrophosphate was considered during the 
NOSB's 2016 sunset review. For the 2016 sunset review, two notices of 
the public meetings with request for comments were published in Federal 
Register on September 8, 2014 (79 FR 53162) and on March 12, 2015 (80 
FR 12975). Their purpose was to notify the public that the tetrasodium 
pyrophosphate exemption discussed in this proposed rule would expire on 
September 12, 2016, if not reviewed by the NOSB and renewed by the 
Secretary. During their 2016 sunset review deliberation, the NOSB 
considered written comments received prior to and during the public 
meetings on all substance exemptions included in the 2016 sunset 
review. These written comments can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for the document ID numbers: AMS-NOP-
14-0063 (October 2014 public meeting) and AMS-NOP-15-0002 (April 2015 
public meeting). The NOSB also considered oral comments received during 
these public meetings which are included in the meeting transcripts 
available on the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. In 
addition, during their 2016 sunset review, the NOSB considered two 
technical reports on tetrasodium pyrophosphate that were requested by 
and developed for the NOSB in 2014 and 2002, which are available for 
review in the petitioned substance database on the NOP Web site.
    Within the September 2014 and April 2015 meeting notices, the NOSB 
requested information on the continued use of tetrasodium pyrophosphate 
as an ingredient necessary for use in organic food processing. The NOSB 
review of public comment in response to these requests indicated a lack 
of support for the continued need for tetrasodium pyrophosphate used as 
an ingredient in the production of organic processed products. In 
addition, based upon information from the 2014 technical report, the 
NOSB also determined there are several alternatives to tetrasodium 
pyrophosphate that maybe more compatible with organic production. Since 
the received comments indicated a lack of support for the continued use 
of tetrasodium pyrophosphate and the NOSB's determination of more 
suitable alternatives, the NOSB determined that the exemption for 
tetrasodium pyrophosphate on Sec.  205.605(b) is no longer necessary or 
essential for organic processed products and recommended that 
tetrasodium pyrophosphate be removed from the National List.
    AMS accepts the NOSB's recommendation on removing tetrasodium 
pyrophosphate from the National List. This proposed rule would amend 
Sec.  205.605(b) by removing the substance exemption for tetrasodium 
pyrophosphate. This amendment is proposed to be effective on 
tetrasodium pyrophosphate's current sunset date, September 12, 2016.

III. Related Documents

    Two notices of public meetings with request for comments were 
published in Federal Register on September 8, 2014 (79 FR 53162) and on 
March 12, 2015 (80 FR 12975) in order to notify the public that the 
2016 sunset review listings discussed in this proposed rule would 
expire on September 12, 2016, if not reviewed by the NOSB and renewed 
by the Secretary.

IV. Statutory and Regulatory Authority

    OFPA, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522), authorizes the Secretary to 
make amendments to the National List based on proposed recommendations 
developed by the NOSB. Sections 6518(k)(2) and 6518(n) of OFPA 
authorize the NOSB to develop proposed amendments to the National List 
for submission to the Secretary and establish a petition process by 
which persons may petition the NOSB for the purpose of having 
substances evaluated for inclusion on or deletion from the National 
List. The National List petition process is implemented under Sec.  
205.607 of the USDA organic regulations. The current petition process 
was published on January 18, 2007 (72 FR 2167) and can be accessed 
through the NOP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. AMS published 
a revised sunset review process in the Federal Register on September 
16, 2013 (78 FR 56811).

A. Executive Order 12866

    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866, and therefore, has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.

B. Executive Order 12988

    Executive Order 12988 instructs each executive agency to adhere to 
certain requirements in the development of new and revised regulations 
in order to avoid unduly burdening the court system. This proposed rule 
is not intended to have a retroactive effect.
    States and local jurisdictions are preempted under OFPA from 
creating programs of accreditation for private persons or State 
officials who want to become certifying agents of organic farms or 
handling operations. A governing State official would have to apply to 
USDA to be accredited as a certifying agent, as described in section 
2115(b) of OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6514(b)). States are also preempted under 
section 2104 through 2108 of OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6503 through 6507) from 
creating certification programs to certify organic farms or handling 
operations unless the State programs have been submitted to, and 
approved by, the Secretary as meeting the requirements of OFPA.
    Pursuant to section 2108(b)(2) of OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6507(b)(2)), a 
State organic certification program may contain additional requirements 
for the production and handling of organically produced agricultural 
products that are produced in the State and for the certification of 
organic farm and handling operations located within the State under 
certain circumstances. Such additional requirements must: (a) Further 
the purposes of OFPA, (b) not be inconsistent with OFPA, (c) not be 
discriminatory toward agricultural commodities organically produced in 
other States, and (d) not be effective until approved by the Secretary.
    Pursuant to section 2120(f) of OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6519(f)), this 
proposed rule would not alter the authority of the Secretary under the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601-624), the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451-471), or the Egg Products Inspection Act 
(21 U.S.C. 1031-1056), concerning meat, poultry, and egg products, nor 
any of the authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301-399), nor 
the authority of the Administrator of EPA under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136-136(y)).
    Section 2121 of OFPA (7 U.S.C. 6520) provides for the Secretary to 
establish

[[Page 78154]]

an expedited administrative appeals procedure under which persons may 
appeal an action of the Secretary, the applicable governing State 
official, or a certifying agent under this title that adversely affects 
such person or is inconsistent with the organic certification program 
established under this title. OFPA also provides that the U.S. District 
Court for the district in which a person is located has jurisdiction to 
review the Secretary's decision.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612) requires 
agencies to consider the economic impact of each rule on small entities 
and evaluate alternatives that would accomplish the objectives of the 
rule without unduly burdening small entities or erecting barriers that 
would restrict their ability to compete in the market. The purpose of 
the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of businesses subject 
to the action. Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to certify a 
rule, in lieu of preparing an analysis, if the rulemaking is not 
expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities.
    Pursuant to the requirements set forth in the RFA, AMS performed an 
economic impact analysis on small entities in the final rule published 
in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000 (65 FR 80548). AMS has 
also considered the economic impact of this action on small entities. 
The impact on entities affected by this proposed rule would not be 
significant. The effect of this proposed rule would be to prohibit the 
use of five non-organic non-agricultural substances that have limited 
public support and may no longer be used since non-organic non-
agricultural alternatives to these substances may have been developed 
and implemented by food processors. AMS concludes that the economic 
impact of removing the nonorganic nonagricultural substance, egg white 
lysozyme, cyclohexylamine, diethylaminoethanol, octadecylamine, and 
tetrasodium pyrophosphate would be minimal to small agricultural firms 
since alternative non-agricultural products may be commercially 
available. As such, these substances are proposed to be removed from 
the National List under this rule. Accordingly, AMS certifies that this 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    Small agricultural service firms, which include producers, 
handlers, and accredited certifying agents, have been defined by the 
Small Business Administration (SBA) (13 CFR 121.201) as those having 
annual receipts of less than $7,000,000 and small agricultural 
producers are defined as those having annual receipts of less than 
$750,000.
    According to USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 
certified organic acreage exceeded 3.5 million acres in 2011.\1\ 
According to NOP's Accreditation and International Activities Division, 
the number of certified U.S. organic crop and livestock operations 
totaled over 19,470 in 2014. The list of certified operations is 
available on the NOP Web site at http://apps.ams.usda.gov/nop/. AMS 
believes that most of these entities would be considered small entities 
under the criteria established by the SBA. U.S. sales of organic food 
and non-food have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $39.1 billion in 
2014, an 11.3 percent growth over 2013 sales.\2\ In addition, the USDA 
has 80 accredited certifying agents who provide certification services 
to producers and handlers. A complete list of names and addresses of 
accredited certifying agents may be found on the AMS NOP Web site, at 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. AMS believes that most of these accredited 
certifying agents would be considered small entities under the criteria 
established by the SBA. Certifying agents reported 27,810 certified 
operations worldwide in 2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural 
Statistics Service. October 2012. 2011 Certified Organic Productions 
Survey.
    \2\ Organic Trade Association. 2014. Organic Industry Survey. 
www.ota.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    No additional collection or recordkeeping requirements are imposed 
on the public by this proposed rule. Accordingly, OMB clearance is not 
required by section 350(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. 3501, Chapter 35, or OMB's implementing regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320.

E. Executive Order 13175

    This proposed rule has been reviewed in accordance with the 
requirements of Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribal Governments. The review reveals that this regulation 
will not have substantial and direct effects on Tribal governments and 
will not have significant Tribal implications.

F. General Notice of Public Rulemaking

    This proposed rule reflects recommendations submitted to the 
Secretary by the NOSB for substances on the National List of Allowed 
and Prohibited Substances that, under the Sunset review provisions of 
OFPA, would otherwise expire on September 12, 2016. A 60-day period for 
interested persons to comment on this rule is provided. Sixty days is 
deemed appropriate because the review of these listings was widely 
publicized through two NOSB meeting notices; the use or prohibition of 
these substances, as applicable, are critical to organic production and 
handling; and this rulemaking must be completed before the sunset date 
of September 12, 2016.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 205

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture, Animals, 
Archives and records, Imports, Labeling, Organically produced products, 
Plants, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Seals and insignia, 
Soil conservation.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 205 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 205--NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 205 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6522.


Sec.  205.605  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  205.605:
0
a. Paragraph (a) is amended by removing the following substance: Egg 
white lysozyme (CAS # 9001-63-2).
0
b. Paragraph (b) is amended by removing the following four substances: 
Cyclohexylamine (CAS # 108-91-8)--for use only as a boiler water 
additive for packaging sterilization; Diethylaminoethanol (CAS # 100-
37-8)--for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging 
sterilization; Octadecylamine (CAS # 124-30-1)--for use only as a 
boiler water additive for packaging sterilization; and Tetrasodium 
pyrophosphate (CAS # 7722-88-5)--for use only in meat analog products.

    Dated: December 8, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31380 Filed 12-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P