The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is designed by law to advise the National Organic Program (NOP) on which substances should be allowed or prohibited. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances-a component of the organic standards-lists the exceptions to this basic rule. Organic standards are designed to allow natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting synthetic substances. This is the second installment of the Organic 101 series that explores different aspects of the USDA organic regulations. (Photo courtesy Pleasantview Farm, an Ohio certified organic dairy farm) For livestock like these healthy cows, however, vaccines play an important part in animal health-especially since antibiotic therapy is prohibited.
The basic rule for organic agriculture is to allow natural substances and prohibit synthetic.
