PCO Prohibited Substances & Allowed Inputs 3

Question 1

An organic system plan (OSP) lists an input product by brand name. During inspection, the inspector should verify this by:

Accepted Answer

Cross-referencing the product's ingredient list against the National List and confirming the product is approved by the certifier

Answer

Accepting the brand name listing as sufficient without further verification

Answer

Requiring the operator to replace all brand-name products with generic OMRI-listed alternatives

Answer

Checking only the product label for an organic seal

Question 2

Under 7 CFR 205.672, when may a certified operation use a prohibited substance to treat an organic crop or field?

Accepted Answer

Never — use of a prohibited substance on a certified field always results in loss of certification for that land for at least 3 years

Answer

Only with prior emergency authorization from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Answer

If the certifier grants a temporary variance due to an unforeseen pest emergency

Answer

When no allowed substance is available and the economic loss would exceed 50% of crop value

Question 3

An inspector is reviewing an organic handling operation that processes both organic and conventional products on the same equipment. What is the MOST critical input-related control to verify?

Accepted Answer

Effective equipment cleaning procedures that prevent organic products from contacting prohibited substances used in conventional processing

Answer

That conventional products are processed on separate days from organic products without any additional controls

Answer

That all cleaning agents used in the facility are OMRI listed regardless of whether they contact product

Answer

That the facility uses only organic-certified cleaning agents on all equipment at all times

Question 4

Which of the following pest management inputs is PROHIBITED in organic crop production regardless of application method?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic pyrethroid insecticides

Answer

Pyrethrin-based insecticides (botanical)

Answer

Kaolin clay

Answer

Diatomaceous earth

Question 5

An organic produce operator uses hydrogen peroxide to sanitize irrigation water. Which condition makes this use compliant under NOP?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen peroxide is on the National List as an allowed substance for this purpose under 7 CFR 205.601

Answer

The operator has received a 3-year variance from the certifier

Answer

The EPA has registered the product as safe for irrigation water, which automatically permits organic use

Answer

The operator applies it at half the label rate to minimize residues

Question 6

When an inspector encounters an input material on the operation that is not listed in the Organic System Plan, the CORRECT action is to:

Accepted Answer

Flag the unlisted material as a non-conformance and document it in the inspection report for the certifier to resolve

Answer

Immediately instruct the operator to remove the material from the premises

Answer

Approve the material if it appears to be natural or organic in origin

Answer

Issue a cease-and-desist order pending laboratory analysis of the substance

Question 7

Under the NOP, the use of genetically engineered (GE) organisms or materials derived from excluded methods is:

Accepted Answer

Prohibited in all aspects of organic production, handling, and livestock management

Answer

Allowed if the GE material constitutes less than 5% of the final product

Answer

Permitted for pest control applications only when no organic alternative exists

Answer

Allowed in livestock feed if the animal shows no adverse health effects