| As we mentioned earlier, to be an "organic gardener" one must use pesticides or repellents that have been approved for use in organic gardening. So, products that are certified organic, which have gone through a battery of tests and reviews from third party agencies to earn this prestigious designation, are sitting along side products that misleadingly use the words "natural" or "organic" (without any validation) to describe a product that may only contain a few ingredients found in nature, but mostly containing artificial chemicals, harmful to your health. That is why the USDA and recognized, non-profit institutions such as the Organic Materials Review Institute should be important to you. These agencies work to take the confusion out of buying organic. We will inform you on how to understand product labels to recognize certified products so you can make an informed decision and buy organic! National Organic Program (NOP) .gif) What is it? The National Organic Program (NOP) is the federal regulatory framework, governing organic products. Administered by the USDA, it monitors all aspects of product production, processing, delivery and retail sale to ensure its organic nature. Under the National Organic Program, manufacturers who wish to use the "for organic gardening" seal on their products must use materials that are on the NOP's list of materials approved for organic production. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) redefines “organic” by setting up its own standards for “certified organic product.” Certified organic products offer consumers the peace of mind to know that their gardening efforts will do less harm to people, pets and the environment than in using chemical pesticides. Safer® Brand offers a wide array of products 'compliant for use in organic gardening' including the extremely popular EndAll™ Insect Killer which kills up to 46 different type of pests!! .gif) Organic Materials Review Institute® What is it? OMRI® is an independent national nonprofit organization that determines which products are allowed for use in organic production and offers certifications based on whether or not a product meets their requirements. OMRI® provides organic growers, manufacturers, and suppliers with an independent review of products intended for use in organic production, handling or processing. Examples of OMRI® Listed products are fertilizers & pesticides used for organic farming as well as feed supplements for organic animal production & organic gardening. OMRI® has assembled a national board of experts from the organic industry that review, not only the ingredients contained in a product, but also the sources of those ingredients and how they are processed. OMRI Listed® Seal Products that pass the OMRI® review carry the OMRI Listed® Seal and appear on the OMRI® Brand Name Products List. The OMRI Listed® Seal assures the suitability of a product for organic production, handling and processing. Safer® Brand proudly offers the largest array of OMRI Listed® organic gardening products on the market. EPA/25(b) List What is it? The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set forth the 25(b) Active Ingredient Exemptions List , which contains the active ingredients that are known as "minimum risk pesticides," exempting them from the requirements of federal registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( FIFRA), allowing products to be labeled according to the guidelines set forth by the USDA. Criteria The use of 25(b) active ingredients for pesticide products must comply with the following criteria: Inert ingredients in pesticides are those ingredients that are not intended to affect a target pest but are added to enhance some characteristic, for example the pesticides solubility in water. Inerts are not necessarily harmless and some inerts may be quite toxic, and make up a large percentage of the product. The EPA classifies inert ingredients in four lists: What you should know Just because certain product ingredients find their place on the EPA 25(b) list does not mean the product is safe. Certain companies abuse the verbiage and terminology allowed by highlighting words in their labeling. This is a way for companies to get around the strict rules and regulations that deem a product “organic.” Do not be fooled by 'organic' imitations Some non-certified products that tout organic ingredients display the claim “safe around children and pets.” While a repellent may be intended to spray in secluded areas in your lawn or garden, kids and pets do not generally stay in a specific spot, and can become exposed to the harmful chemicals. Would you want your child or pet 'rolling around' in areas recently treated by harmful chemicals? By using products containing the USDA organic seal or OMRI® Listed seal on its labeling, such as Safer® Brand products, you take the worry out of the equation, and keep your family safe! Safer®Brand brings you a variety of effective insect control products that are gentler on the environment! Most of them proudly display the OMRI Listed® organic seal and comply for use in organic gardening!  |