What is OMRI?

There are no federal standards or regulations for how the term "organic" can be used in pest control products, which means it can be difficult to figure out which products are able to be used in organic gardening and which ones aren't. Enter OMRI, an independent organization that makes finding products for organic farmers and gardeners—and you!—easier.

Ortho is proud to have products that meet OMRI's rigorous standards for organic use, but what does that actually mean? Let's take a look at what it takes to be OMRI Listed and what that little OMRI seal really means.

What is OMRI?

OMRI is the Organic Materials Review Institute, an independent third-party reviewer of products that is accredited to ISO 17065 standards by the USDA Quality Assessment Division. To put it more simply, OMRI reviews products and determines if they meet standards for organic gardening and production. While the USDA certifies organic food and fiber products, OMRI looks at products used in organic food and fiber production or "inputs"—think fertilizers, soils, pesticides, and livestock feed, for instance—to see if they meet the USDA's rigorous standards for organic production.

Product suppliers voluntarily submit product applications to OMRI, and OMRI reviews ingredient lists, including inert ingredients, as well as manufacturing processes to determine if the product meets organic standards. About 10% of submitted applications are rejected. Listed products may use the OMRI Listed seal on their packaging.

Are OMRI Listed products Certified Organic?

The term "Certified Organic" only applies to food and fiber products, such as fruits, veggies, and meat you find in your grocery store or cotton used for your clothing. Input products are not eligible to be Certified Organic by the USDA.

Instead of certified organic, OMRI Listed products are just that: OMRI Listed. You may see "OMRI Listed for organic use" or "OMRI Listed for organic production"; both are appropriate when referring to a product's OMRI status. Terms such as "OMRI Certified," "OMRI approved," "OMRI registered," or other similar terms are not in compliance with OMRI's standards.

Are OMRI Listed Products Organic?

Not all ingredients in OMRI Listed products are organic, but all ingredients must be approved for organic use by the USDA's organic food production program. These standards generally allow nonsynthetic ingredients, as well as a small number of synthetic ingredients that have been thoroughly reviewed. When you're using an OMRI Listed product, you can rest assured that you're using something that meets rigorous standards for use in organic production.

What is the OMRI Seal?

Once a product is approved by OMRI, the manufacturer can use the OMRI Listed seal on the label. When you see this mark on the label or packaging of applicable Ortho® products, you know you're choosing a product that's listed for organic gardening. You can also check out OMRI's search page to find out if your product is listed.

Checking with OMRI takes the guesswork out of finding products. Terms like "organic," "natural," or "non-toxic" can be misleading if you're not paying close attention to product labels. Even if a product label lists organic ingredients, they may be leaving out synthetic inert or inactive ingredients or manufacturing processes that don't meet organic standards.

Which Ortho® Products are OMRI Listed?

We're proud to have products that are OMRI Listed! With any pest or weed control product, it's important to review and follow all label directions.

Ortho® GroundClear® Weed and Grass Killer: This OMRI Listed weed control product kills all types of weeds and grasses and can be used on unwanted weeds or grasses in your landscape beds and on hardscapes like driveways and sidewalks. This product comes in a variety of applicator options, including Comfort Wand®, trigger sprayer, refill, and concentrate—all are OMRI Listed.
Ortho® Bug-Geta® Snail & Slug Killer2: Get rid of pesky snails and slugs in your garden with this OMRI Listed pest control product. Apply product to the soil around listed plants, including vegetables, fruit trees, and ornamental plants (see label for complete list).