USDA adjust methionine levels for organic chicken

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has adjusted the maximum allowable concentrations of methionine, an essential amino acid, in organic poultry.

This final rule amends the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) to enact one recommendation submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on April 29, 2010.

This final rule revises the annotation for one substance on the National List, methionine, to reduce the maximum levels of synthetic methionine allowed in organic poultry production after October 1, 2012. This final rule permits the use of synthetic methionine at the following maximum levels per US ton of feed after October 1, 2012: laying and broiler chickens – 2 pounds( or approx. 1kg per tonne); turkeys and all other poultry – 3 pounds (1.5kg/tonne).

This action also corrects the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers for the allowable forms of synthetic methionine.

The rule is effective starting on October 2, 2012.

Source: AMS USDA