Feds Revise Organic Foods Standards
APO 08.05.98 16:53
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The information contained in this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise
distributed without the prior written authority of the Associated Press.
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Farm Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a major victory for organic foods proponents, Agriculture Secretary
Dan Glickman today announced that national organic standards will not permit irradiation,
genetic engineering or use of sewage sludge as fertilizer.
The department received more than 200,000 comments from the public since December about
the proposed standards. The overwhelming majority opposed the three controversial items.
"They neither fit current organic practices nor meet current consumer expectations
about organics, as the comments made clear," Glickman said.
When the Agriculture Department proposed the first-ever national standards for organic
foods, it took no official position on the so-called "Big Three" provisions.
Instead, Glickman wanted to hear from the public about them.
"If organic farmers and consumers reflect our national standards, we have
failed," Glickman said.
Pro-organic forces marshaled a fax, letter and e-mail campaign to ensure the measures were
not included in the final rule. Indeed, only a handful of the comments were in favor of
irradiation, genetic engineering and sewage sludge.
"This is not about compromise. This is about integrity," said Michael Sligh,
director of the Rural Advancement Foundation International.
The organic industry is growing 20 percent a year as many consumers look for alternatives
to conventional agriculture, with its pesticides and factory livestock farms. Many organic
farmers feared the initial USDA rule would dilute their strict standards by permitting
more conventional practices to be labeled "organic."
The Agriculture Department now plans to propose a revised set of standards later this
year. Organic groups have objected to other sections of the first rule, including
treatment of livestock, control of the list of organic definitions and whether states
could impose their own tougher standards.
Glickman said all of that would be reconsidered in the new rule.
"Our task is to stimulate growth of organic agriculture, ensure that consumers have
confidence in the products that bear the organic label, and develop export markets for
this growing industry," he said.