G/TBT/N/USA/2267

24 March 2026

(26-2343)

Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

Original: English

1.

Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Department of Agriculture (USDA) [2301]

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Organic crops and livestock; Pesticides and other agrochemicals (ICS code(s): 65.100); Processes in the food industry (ICS code(s): 67.020); Food products in general (ICS code(s): 67.040); Cereals, pulses and derived products (ICS code(s): 67.060); Fruits. Vegetables (ICS code(s): 67.080); Meat, meat products and other animal produce (ICS code(s): 67.120)

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): National Organic Program: National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances per October 2021, October 2022, and October 2024 Recommendations (Crops and Livestock); (10 page(s), in English)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/USA/26_01641_00_e.pdf

6.

Description of content: Proposed rule - This proposed rule would amend the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic regulations related to organic crop and livestock production. The proposed rule would provide additional tools to organic producers, allowing carbon dioxide in organic crop production and meloxicam as a pain treatment in organic livestock production. Additionally, this rulemaking would remove overly burdensome restrictions for methionine, an amino acid, in organic poultry feed and would affirm that sodium nitrate may be used as a fertilizer in organic crop production, with certain conditions to protect soil quality.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Quality requirements; Cost saving and productivity enhancement

8.

Relevant documents:

91 Federal Register (FR) 13782, 23 March 2026; Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 205:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-23/html/2026-05598.htm

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-23/pdf/2026-05598.pdf

This proposed rule is identified by Docket Number AMS-NOP-22-0029, RIN 0581-AE25. Documents and comments are available from Regulations.gov, accessible by searching the Docket Number.

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 22 May 2026

[ ] 60 days from notification

WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point by or before 4pm Eastern Time on 22 May 2026. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with USDA and submitted to the Docket if received within the comment period.

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov