Chelates in COR

How does OMRI review chelates under the COR standards?

By Maddie Nagy

In general, chelation of crop nutrients and production aids is allowed under the Canada Organic Regime (COR), with some exceptions. There are several entries on Canada’s Permitted Substances List (PSL, CAN/CGSB-32.311-2020) that specify that chelation with certain materials is allowed. For example, the “Chelates” PSL entry at Table 4.2 (Substances for Crop Production) lists specific examples of chelating agents, including acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, humates, lignosulfonates and vinegar. This “Chelates” entry appears at both column 1 (soil amendments) and column 2 (production aids) of Table 4.2, and further specifies that column 2 materials can be used for chelation, even within a fertilizer product (column 1). OMRI’s precedent for reviewing chelates is limited to materials that are understood to be chelating agents, such as the examples listed above. Review of the use of other column 2 materials that are not readily understood to provide a chelating effect for a crop nutrient would require additional consideration by the appropriate Review Panel, or clarification from the Standards and Interpretation Committee.

Not all chelating agents are allowed. It is important to follow the restrictions found at specific entries. For example, the “Lignin and lignin sulphonates (lignosulphonates)” entry on the PSL clarifies that ammonium lignosulfonates are prohibited. This is a significant contrast to the U.S. National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, which allow ammonium lignosulfonates in fertilizers.

Another PSL entry that has exceptions to certain chelating agents is “Micronutrients,” which specifies that EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA, nitrate and ammonium forms of micronutrients are prohibited. 

Similarly, minerals may also be chelated in livestock feeds. PSL Table 5.2 (Livestock feed, additives, and supplements) specifies that chelated and sulfated forms of minerals are allowed, and that chelation with EDTA or EDDHA is prohibited. More leeway is given for livestock health care products because PSL Table 5.3 (Health care products and production aids) states that minerals from any source are permitted for medical use. Similar to NOP livestock regulations, if a material contains proteinated or amino acid complexed minerals, those materials cannot be derived from animal slaughter by-products (CAN/CGSB-32.310-2020 6.4.4(e)), nor can they be a product of excluded methods (GMOs) (1.4 and 1.5 of CAN/CGSB-32.310).

In summary, chelation is allowed under the COR standards, but has specific exceptions that are clearly stated in the appropriate column of the PSL. Although chelation of nutrients to make them more effective is allowed in both COR and NOP organic systems, the allowances are not identical. This is also the case for label claims related to chelated materials. OMRI places more scrutiny on how chelated materials are identified on product labels for products listed to NOP standards. Under COR, OMRI currently does not have any expectations or limitations on the identification of chelated materials on product labels. Careful consideration should be used when choosing an appropriate chelated material for an organic operation.   

This article was originally published in the summer 2023 edition of the OMRI Materials Review newsletter, and was updated in December 2023 by Research and Education Manager Peter Bungum.