Hi Everyone! I'm still here, and reading all the e-mails (though I can't participate in the orders etc....being here in the mid-west makes it a bit impractical). Here's a little news that I thought people would find useful. Its off of the Northfarm Co-op's February Newsletter. I don't know who the author was (it isn't noted for this part of the newsletter), but the editor is Norma Woods (to give credit where credit is due). Here's the news: http://www.northfarm.com/shopinsider/news_jf_01.htm (the address at which you can find the original article) USDA Sets New National Organic Standards National organic standards are the result of ten years of dedicated work by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the farming community supporting sustainable agriculture, consumers and a number of dedicated government employees. These new standards will contribute tremendously to the growth of family farms, to the U.S. economy and to a safer environment worldwide. How will this affect consumers? For the first time, there will be consistent standards for all organic products marketed in the United States. No longer will there be questions concerning what certification stands for, or whether a state recognizes a private certification label. Instead, with national organic standards, there will be guaranteed reciprocity and uniformity among all certifying bodies approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Standards clarify and make labeling consistent, protecting the integrity of the organic guarantee. The rule gives consumers the assurance of what organic stands for. Organic agriculture prohibits the use of toxic synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, irradiation, sewage sludge, and genetic engineering in anything labeled organic. USDA will finally oversee and enforce the entry of only qualified organic products into the United States, thus preventing false and mislabeled products from entering the country. What is going to happen in the coming months? There is a 60-day period during which Congress can review the final rule. Following that, there will be an implementation period during which certifying bodies will need to apply for, and gain, approval from USDA. The USDA has predicted it will take approximately a year to review and approve U.S. certifiers, both state and private entities, and to negotiate international equivalency agreements. The first round of approval will be free, with approval granted for five years. USDA will need to approve foreign certifying agencies or reach equivalency agreements with countries that have their own national organic standards before products certified as organic outside the United States can be labeled and sold as organic here. The OTA anticipates there will then be a six-month period for businesses to obtain certification from accredited certifiers. Businesses already certified will be grandfathered for up to one year. What changes will consumers see? Consumers will see new labels on organic products. They may also see the use of the USDA seal on various organic products. The new standards allow four labeling options. The first three categories would prohibit the inclusion of any ingredients produced using genetic engineering, irradiation, or sewage sludge. 1.100% organic. Only products exclusively produced using organic methods will be allowed to carry a label declaring �100% organic.� 2.Organic. This will signify 95% of the ingredients (by weight, excluding water and salt) in a processed product have been organically produced. The remaining 5% can only be natural ingredients or synthetic ingredients allowed on the National List. Organic products must be processed by a certified organic handler. 3.Made with organic. Products with 70 to 95% organic ingredients may display �Made with organic [with the specific ingredient or ingredients listed]�. Organic products must be processed by a certified organic handler. 4.Products with less than 70% organic ingredients would be allowed to list the organic items in the ingredient panel only. A label claiming �Organic Vegetable Soup,� for instance, would signify that 95% of the total ingredients of the soup are certified as organic. Alternately, a soup label might read �Vegetable soup made with organic ingredients.� Another label might simply read �Vegetable Soup� and include the word �organic� in the ingredient panel (as in �potatoes, carrots, and organic kidney beans�). In all label categories, the product cannot use both organic and non-organic versions of the same ingredient. For instance, if a bread is made with organic wheat, all of the wheat in the bread must be organic, not 80% organic wheat and 20% non-organic wheat. How soon will shoppers see the USDA seal on products? Products may begin carrying the seal within 18 months. Use of the seal, however, is voluntary. It is the use of the term �organic� that will be regulated. The Organic Trade Association will work very hard with the Bush administration to ensure that this program is quickly implemented, with accreditation and certification occurring in a timely fashion. In a best-case scenario, a certifier that is currently ISO Guide 65 accredited will immediately apply to the USDA for approval, and complete the approval process in the first year. How will this affect the organic industry? Internationally, it means that the United States will be able to sit down as an equal at the negotiating table with the European Union and Japan concerning organic products. Without the rule, these international parties would have halted exports of U.S. organic products. The result will be access to additional international markets and further U.S. sales of organic products. With clear and consistent organic standards and labeling requirements, domestic sales will continue to expand. National organic standards position the organic industry to grow the organic farm community, protecting the environment and protecting future generations. Having standards in place will facilitate and expand the marketing of organic products, both domestically and globally. The rule ends any doubts about the credibility or viability of organic agriculture. This regulation acknowledges that organic agriculture is a viable and integral part of U.S. agriculture. National organic standards will allow the industry to pursue other growth opportunities, such as in fiber, in landscaping, and in organic alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Are national organic standards good for small farms and businesses? Organic agriculture is a production system that is proving to be a high-growth niche in a low-growth sector (agriculture) of the economy. It gives farmers a chance to produce high-value products while increasing the health of the land that they farm. Growing consumer demand worldwide continues to open markets both domestically and internationally for U.S. farmers and small businesses choosing to offer organic products. The regulations, currently posted on USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service�s web site (www.ams.usda.gov/nop), also appeared in the Dec. 21, 2000 issue of the Federal Register. Further information about national organic standards is available on OTA�s web site (www.ota.com). Cheers JS __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices! http://auctions.yahoo.com/
