Skip to content

Casings (2024 Sunset Handling)

Sunset Survey

This survey is administered by the Organic Trade Association to assess the necessity/essentiality of substances used in organic production and processing that are undergoing NOSB Sunset Review. The information collected will be passed along to NOSB anonymously via the Organic Trade Association’s comments. Please do not include any confidential business information. For more information on the NOSB Meeting and comment opportunities, please visit OTA.com/NOSB.

This survey is for the substance CASINGS
§205.606
Casings from processed intestines of beef, lamb, and pork are allowed for make natural casings for sausage only when non-organic forms are commercially unavailable.
1.Is your operation certified organic?
2.Are CASINGS included in your organic system plan?
3.Which types of organic products do you use casings in/on? (e.g., yogurt, fruit juices, baked goods, etc.)
4.What function does casings provide in/on your organic products and why is it essential? (e.g., stabilizer, thickener, flavor, sanitizer, etc.)
5.With what frequency does your operation use casings? (e.g., seldom, as needed when a certain condition arises, routinely, etc.)
6.NOSB collects information about the "ancillary substances" (e.g. carriers, preservatives, stabilizers) that may be used to formulate commercial forms of the substance. Are there ancillary substances used in casings?
7.Have you tried using any other substances as an alternative to casings? (e.g. other natural or organic substances)
8.Are there any other management practices that would eliminate the need for casings?
9.How would your organic handling be impacted if non-organic casings were no longer allowed? (describe the effects on product quality, economic effects, environment effects, or human health effects)
10.How much potential is there for a certified organic casings market?
11.Is separation at the slaughterhouse still a barrier to the availability of certified organic supply?
12.On a scale from 1 to 5 stars, rate the overall necessity of non-organic casings for your organic operation:
Unnecessary (don’t need it at all)
Neutral (nice to have but could live without it)
Critical (would leave organic without it)
13.You are strongly encouraged to submit your own comments to NOSB. See ota.com/nosb for instructions. 

If you would like assistance or guidance in submitting comments to NOSB, please contact Gwendolyn Wyard at gwyard@ota.com or provide your contact information below and OTA will contact you directly.