Apr 6, 2011
Public comment accepted for organic control of fire blight

Two tools over the past 30-plus years for the control of fire blight in apples and pears, oxytetracycline (tetracycline) and streptomycin, are on the verge of being eliminated from use by organic growers of these fruit crops.

Oxytetracycline and streptomycin are manufactured and marketed as FireLine 17 WP (previously known as Flameout) and FireWall 17 WP, respectively, by AgroSource, Inc. Both tetracycline and streptomycin have been allowed by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) for the control of fire blight in organic apple and pear orchards since 2000.

At their next bi-annual meeting April 26 to 29 in Seattle, Wash., the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will vote individually whether to end USDA-NOP approval of tetracycline and streptomycin for use by organic apple and pear growers for fire blight control. These votes will be final.

The NOSB has made provision for individuals to make in-person public comments (limited to 5 minutes) at the Seattle meeting. Written comments are also being accepted by the NOSB. Unless apple and/or pear growers, especially organic growers, provide a significant measure of positive input on this issue, tetracycline and streptomycin will be eliminated from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for control of fire blight in organic apple and pear orchards, effective October 21, 2012.

Written comments regarding oxytetracycline and/or streptomycin may be uploaded at the regulations.gov website.

After opening the page at the URL above, you should see one item in the Docket Folder Summary called “Meetings: National Organic Standards Board”. Click on the words “Comment Due” just below the title. You will then be taken to a new page where you can either type your comments directly (2,000 character limit) or upload a prepared file. You may preview and print your comments before submitting.

To sign up for in-person five minute verbal comments, click here.

The deadline for submitting written comments or for signing up for in-person verbal comments is 11:59 PM (ET) April 10, 2011.

Taken from an AgroSource Inc. press release


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