# COMAR Title 15 — Maryland Department of Agriculture

## Subtitle 22 — Organically Produced Commodities

### Chapter 02 — Organic Product Standards

#### Regulation .08 Pest and Disease Control.

*COMAR 15.22.02.08*

A. A producer may use the following practices and substances consistent with applicable label instructions:

  (1) Adjuvants and wetting agents (organic);

  (2) Allelochemics (attractants, deterrents, repellants, locomotor stimulants, and convalescents);

  (3) Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.);

  (4) Beneficial insects, predators, parasites;

  (5) Biological pesticides and emulsifiers or synergists;

  (5-1) Cryolite;

  (6) Cultural practices (timing, environments);

  (7) Diatomaceous earth;

  (8) Dormant oils;

  (9) Elemental sulfur or liquid sulfur;

  (10) Fiber row covers;

  (11) Fungicidal soaps;

  (12) Garlic, hot peppers, or pureed plants;

  (13) Growth regulators, only if organically derived;

  (14) Herbal or plant-derived controls (deer repellent);

  (15) Hydrogen peroxide;

  (16) Insect extracts or purees;

  (17) Lime sulfur, including calcium polysulfide;

  (18) Mechanical or electrical controls;

  (19) Microbial or viral agents;

  (20) Micronutrients, with toxicity to be avoided;

  (21) Natural barriers, which include fencing and protective coatings from approved natural products;

  (21-1) Neem;

  (21-2) Pesticides from naturally occurring organisms;

  (22) Pheromones;

  (23) Physical barriers;

  (24) Pyrethrums, if from a botanical source;

  (25) Quassias;

  (26) Resistant varieties;

  (27) 1 percent Rotenone;

  (28) Ryania;

  (29) Ryania, pyrethrum, and rotenone blends, if from a botanical source;

  (30) Sabadilla;

  (31) Seed inoculants;

  (32) Soaps;

  (33) Sound;

  (34) Summer oils;

  (35) Supplemental feeding or management techniques;

  (36) Timing of plantings;

  (37) Trapping substances;

  (38) Tree seals;

  (39) Vacuuming;

  (40) Viral sprays; or

  (41) Vitamins.

B. A producer may use the following substances and practices subject to applicable label instructions, but only for the purpose listed for each:

  (1) Arsenic, which may only be used in pressure-treated wood but not for growing boxes;

  (2) Baking soda and vinegar, which may be used for sanitation only;

  (3) Boric acid, which may not be used on edible plant parts;

  (4) Chlorine bleach, which may only be used as a disinfectant;

  (5) Dormant oils (woody dormant);

  (6) Hydrated lime, which may be used only as a foliar fungicide;

  (7) Lime sulfur, which may be used only as a foliar fungicide; or

  (8) Summer oil, which may not be used as a herbicide.

C. If approved by the Department as part of the farm plan, a producer may use the following substances subject to applicable label instructions:

  (1) Streptomycin, with overuse to be avoided;

  (2) Treated seeds;

  (3) Bordeaux mixture;

  (4) Copper hydroxide;

  (5) Copper sulfate;

  (6) Cupric oxide; or

  (7) Tribasic copper formulations.

D. A producer using any of the copper-containing products listed in §C(3)—(7) of this regulation shall monitor the soil to avoid copper buildup.

E. A producer may use traps containing pesticides prohibited by this subtitle that do not contact, and are not added to, soil or water.

F. An organic producer may not use:

  (1) Synthetically compounded pesticides;

  (2) Nonsynthetic compounds, such as:

    (a) Arsenic;

    (b) Ash from manure burning;

    (c) Lead salts;

    (d) Sodium floualuminate (mined);

    (e) Strychnine; or

    (f) Tobacco dust, or nicotine-based products; or

  (3) Genetically engineered or modified organisms.

G. A producer shall forward to the Department before use the label and any other instructions for a product not listed in this regulation.