Northwest Horticultural Council

Chemical and Food Safety Alerts

While Allowed for 2023 and 2024 Seasons, WSDA Determines Mating Disruption Products Containing Pear Ester Not Approved in Organic Production

On April 10, 2023, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Organic Program announced a re-determination of ten mating disruption and pest monitoring lure products produced by Trécé, Inc. as containing a synthetic kairomone. Synthetic pheromones are approved for use in organic production, synthetic kairomones are not. WSDA stated that they would not renew the registration for products containing synthetic kairomones (in this case 2,4-decadionic acid, ethyl ester (E,Z) – also known as pear ester). Click here to see the full list of Trécé products in question and to read WSDA’s notice.

WSDA Organic Program is allowing the continued use of the ten products through a “use up period.” This will allow time for producers and the industry to use these products while they consider available options and alternatives. All of the products in question are allowed for use in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Use of these products will not impact organic eligibility of land or crops certified by WSDA Organic Program during the use up period. This decision has no bearing on conventional (non-organic) production.

The Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC) engaged regulators at WSDA and the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to confirm the re-determination and use up period. NHC staff were informed by Trécé that they plan to submit a petition to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to add the pear ester kairomone to the list of synthetic materials allowed for use in organic production. This process can take one to four years. WSDA stated the use up period could be extended through the NOSB’s petition process to avoid a gap in the products’ availability.

The NHC will continue to communicate with the manufacturer and officials at WSDA and NOP regarding the petition process and the use up period. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Langager, technical communications manager, at 509-453-3193.

Posted: 4/21/2023