|
The Organic Materials Review
Institute (OMRI) is a national nonprofit organization that determines
which input products are allowed for use in organic production and
processing. OMRI Listed—or approved—products may be used on operations
that are certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.
OMRI's funding comes from a
variety of sources, including sales of publications, grants, donations,
and subscriptions.
Mainly, however, the organization generates income through fees
collected for the review of products intended for use in organic
production or processing. Also, OMRI operates an organic seed information service to help growers
find organic seeds.
Organizational
Structure
A professional staff of 14 run the
organization's various programs and administration out of the Eugene,
Oregon office.
The OMRI staff is governed by a
Board of Directors,
which is broadly representative of the organic industry. Board members
represents certifiers, farmers, input suppliers, processors, handlers,
consumer organizations, and animal welfare and environmental groups.
The OMRI Advisory Council is composed of
independent, professional
experts from industry, academia, and public interest groups in the
organic community. The
Advisory Council makes policies
and standards recommendations to the Board of Directors.
There are three OMRI Review
Panels: Crops, Livestock, and Processing and Handling. They make
decisions on product applications for the OMRI Review Program.
OMRI Review Program
OMRI's core service is the
Review Program. OMRI accepts applications for products intended to be
used in organic production or processing to determine whether are in
fact allowed under the National Organic Program. Some typical examples
of the types of OMRI reviews are fertilizers for organic farming and
feed supplements for organic animal production.
| After
staff review, applications are submitted to the Review Panel. When the
Review Panel votes to accept an application, the product
becomes OMRI Listed. This means that the company is permitted to say
'OMRI Listed' on the product's label and any promotional literature.
OMRI Listed products are suitable for use in organic production or food
processing. Also, OMRI Listed are included on the OMRI Products
List. |
The OMRI
Listed Seal
|
Product reviews are conducted
as a third-party review of products. This means that OMRI is a
disinterested party that makes recommendations to the organic operator
and certifier.
More Information
For more information about having a product reviewed by OMRI, please
view this page.
For more information about OMRI subscriptions and publications, please
view this page.
To view the OMRI Products List,
click here. |
