National Organic Standards Board Votes To End Streptomycin’s Use In Organic Orchards
May 5, 2014 
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), appointed by USDA, held a bi-annual meeting last week in San Antonio, TX, to consider changes to the standards. On Friday, the board voted to permanently end the use of streptomycin in organic orchards. Both oxytetracycline 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.
A petition was proposed at the NOSB meeting to postpone the expiration for streptomycin to October 2017 for apples and pears in order to allow an adequate transition to non-antibiotic alternatives.
Non-antibiotic alternatives for fire blight control will be featured in the June issue of American Fruit Grower.
Proponents of the extension cited the need to complete the existing research on non-antibiotic methods and materials to ensure a proper phase out. Plus, alternative methods have been inconsistent in control and one material’s registration has been delayed by EPA. Proponents also say there is no evidence that applications of antibiotics during bloom contribute to resistant bacteria in humans.
Opponents of the extension say that fire blight resistance to streptomycin is widespread in the U.S. They question the need for antibiotics, based on the percentage of growers already using non-antibiotic practices, and the threat to organic integrity and sales based on consumer expectation that antibiotics are not used in organic production. Opponents also say there is a risk that streptomycin application could cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans.
“Between now and the expiration date, the Board urges growers and certifiers to include in organic systems plans an annual increase in the extent and/or number of alternative practices and materials that are trialed for controlling fire blight. In addition, the Board strongly advocates to USDA a high priority for increased support for research into these alternative practices and materials,” according to the meeting agenda for the NOSB crop subcommittee.
In order to allow the postponement of streptomycin’s expiration, the NOSB needed a two-thirds majority. According to Dan Charles of NPR, the vote was eight to seven in favor of continuing to use the antibiotic. Because it did not hit the two-thirds mark, organic apple and pear growers will cease to use streptomycin in October.
The use of oxytetracycline had been previously set to expire on Oct. 21, along with streptomycin.
Click here to read the agenda of the National Organic Standards Board meeting.
Source: National Organic Standards Board meeting agenda, National Public Radio news story
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