This page summarises the organic status of Envirolyte anolyte as electrolyzed water / electrolysed water for customers working in organic production, food processing, agriculture, livestock, greenhouse, dairy and other hygiene-sensitive applications.
Anolyte is an electrochemically activated solution generated on site from water, salt and electricity. Depending on the generator settings, it may contain active chlorine species such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite (OCl-). In many organic standards, electrolyzed water is assessed as a chlorine material or as a solution similar to sodium hypochlorite for specific cleaning, disinfection and sanitizing uses.
The information below is provided for technical and regulatory reference only. Organic acceptance depends on the country, organic standard, application, product contact situation, concentration, rinsing or removal requirements, and the decision of the relevant certification body.
Is Anolyte Considered Organic?
Anolyte should not be described simply as an “organic product”. A more accurate statement is that anolyte, as electrolyzed water, may be permitted for certain cleaning, disinfection or sanitizing purposes in organic production and handling when used according to the applicable organic standard.
Customers should confirm the exact conditions of use with their organic certifier, especially when the solution may contact organic food, animal products, irrigation systems, food-contact surfaces or process water.
For technical background on the solution itself, see Electrolysed Water Solutions .
EU Organic Status of Electrolysed Water
Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production
In the European Union, the Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP) reviewed electrolysed water in its report on cleaning and disinfection. EGTOP considered electrolysed water to be similar to sodium hypochlorite because both involve a pH-dependent equilibrium of hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite.
The EGTOP conclusion is that electrolysed water may be used for the purposes for which sodium hypochlorite is authorised, but not for other purposes. This means that EU customers should check the permitted use category, application area and any restrictions that apply to sodium hypochlorite or chlorine-based materials under the relevant organic rules.
Customers should also consider separate requirements under biocidal products legislation where the use is a disinfectant or sanitizer application. For more information, see ECHA / BPR Information and Customer Requirements .
USA: USDA NOP Position on Electrolyzed Water
Policy Memorandum – NOP-PM15-4 Electrolyzed Water
Under the USDA National Organic Program, Policy Memorandum PM 15-4 clarifies the status of electrolyzed water under the USDA organic regulations at 7 CFR Part 205. The memorandum states that electrolyzed water is a type of chlorine material that is allowed in organic production and handling.
The USDA NOP also considers hypochlorous acid generated by electrolyzed water to be an allowable type of chlorine material. Users should still follow applicable concentration limits, label directions, water quality requirements and any rinse or removal requirements specified by the relevant organic rules or certification body.
Canada Organic Standards
Electrolysed Water – page 41
In Canada, electrolyzed water is addressed under chlorine compounds. The Organic Federation of Canada explains that hypochlorous acid generated via electrolyzed water is listed in the relevant permitted substance tables for cleaners, disinfectants and sanitizers.
Canadian customers should verify whether the application is covered by the correct table, whether direct contact with organic products is allowed, and whether a mandatory removal event, rinse step or other restriction applies.
New Zealand and Other Organic Programs
Envirolyte also provides New Zealand-related organic approval information for reference, including BioGro-related documentation where applicable. Because organic approvals and certificate scopes can change, customers should verify the current certificate status, product scope and permitted application before using anolyte in certified organic production or processing.
For additional product and quality documentation, see Quality Control and Approvals & Compliance .
Typical Organic Applications
Subject to local rules and certification-body approval, anolyte as electrolyzed water may be considered for hygiene applications such as:
- cleaning and disinfection of food-contact surfaces;
- sanitizing equipment, tools, tanks and pipelines;
- greenhouse and horticulture hygiene;
- livestock and dairy hygiene applications;
- process water and rinse water applications where permitted;
- organic food handling facilities where chlorine materials are allowed.
The exact permitted use depends on the organic standard, concentration, contact surface, product-contact situation and any required rinse or removal step.
Documents Customers Should Keep
- organic standard references for the country of use;
- certifier confirmation or written approval for the intended application;
- technical data sheet for the generated anolyte solution;
- generator operating parameters and solution concentration records;
- water quality, free available chlorine, pH and ORP monitoring records;
- cleaning, rinsing or removal-event procedures, where applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anolyte should not be presented simply as a certified organic product unless a specific certificate confirms that status. It is more accurate to say that anolyte as electrolyzed water may be permitted for certain organic cleaning, disinfection or sanitizing uses under applicable standards.
In some standards, electrolyzed water is treated as a chlorine material and may be allowed in organic production or handling. The permitted use depends on the country, concentration, contact situation and any rinse or removal requirements.
In the USDA NOP position, hypochlorous acid generated by electrolyzed water is considered an allowable type of chlorine material. Other jurisdictions may apply different conditions or require separate confirmation from the certifying body.
Yes. Customers should always confirm the intended use with their organic certifier before applying anolyte in certified organic production, processing or handling.
Need Organic Status Documentation?
Envirolyte can help customers, distributors and OEM partners identify relevant technical documents, organic-standard references and compliance information for project evaluation, tenders or discussions with certification bodies.
