5.1 At least the following criteria should be used for the purposes of amending the permitted substance lists referred to in Section 4. These lists include products whose use is established in organic agriculture as well as new products that have to meet this criteria. Each input is necessary/essential and should be considered in the context in which the product will be used. Their use satisfies the principles of organic production as outlined in these guidelines. Available alternatives, including inputs which are already in use in organic production, should be evaluated:

(a) if they are used for fertilization, soil conditioning purposes

• they are essential for obtaining or maintaining the fertility of the soil or to fulfill specific nutrition requirements of crops, or specific soil-conditioning and rotation purposes which cannot be satisfied by the practices included in Annex l or other products included in Table l of Annex 2; and,
• the ingredients will bet of plant, animal, microbial, or mineral origin and may undergo the following process: physical (eg. mechanical thermal); enzymatic; microbial; and
• their use does not result in, or contribute to, unacceptable effects on, or contamination of, the environment, including soil organisms; and
• their use has no unacceptable effect on the quality and safety of the final product.

(b) if these substances are used for the purpose of plant disease or pest and weed control

• they should be essential for the control of a harmful organism or a particular disease for which other biological, physical, or plant breeding alternatives and/or effective management practices are not available, and
• substances should be plant, animal, microbial. or mineral ordain and may undergo the following processes: physical (eg. mechanical, thermal); enzymatic; microbial (eg. composting, digestion);
• their use does not result in, or contribute to unacceptable effects on or contamination of the environment.
• however, if they are nature identical products used in traps and dispensers such as pheromones, which are chemically synthesized they will be considered for addition to lists if the products are not available in sufficient quantities in their natural form, provided that the conditions for their use do not directly or indirectly result in the presence of residues of the product in the edible parts.

(c) if they are used as additives or processing aids in the preparation or preservation of the food--

• they are indispensable for ensuring the safety of the food, or
• they are essential to prepare or preserve such foods , and
• such substances are preferably as found in nature and may have undergone preferably mechanical/physical processes (eg extraction, precipitation), biologica/enzymatic processes (eg fermentation) and microbial processes;
• however, if they are nature identical products which are chemically synthesized and it is not possible to prepare or preserve such food products without having recourse to such ingredients they will be considered for addition to the lists if the ingredients are not available in sufficient quantities in their natural form.
• it is not possible to produce a similar product without the use of additives or processing aids;
• the consumer will not be deceived, concerning the nature, substance and quality of the food,
• the purpose is to maintain the nutritional value of the product, to enhance the keeping quality or stability of the products, and to provide the products with an acceptable composition, consistency and appearance;
• there is no detrimental affect on the environment.

5.2 Countries should develop a list of substances which satisfy the requirements of these guidelines. Substances included in the list developed by a country but not yet included in Annex 2 of these guidelines may be a part of the equivalence judgement and decision referred to in section 7.4 of these guidelines. In doing so developing national lists, countries may reduce the list of substances indicated in the lists included in Annex 2. Countries may include in their own lists substances other than those listed in Annex 2 only if:

• the criteria in 5.1 are used as a basis for these additions;
• they are notified in accordance with 5.3 and 5.4 below.

5.3 When a country proposes inclusion of a substance in Annex 2 it should submit the following information:

• (a) a detailed description of the product and the conditions of its envisaged use;
• (b) any information to demonstrate that the requirements under Section 5.1 are satisfied.

The open nature of the lists