Organic standards need total overhaul

In December 1997, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released proposed rules to implement the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 and to define uniform national standards for organic production and labelling. After working closely with USDA for seven years to develop strong national standards, members of the organic industry were outraged to discover that the Agency's proposed rules would greatly weaken existing organic standards by permitting toxic synthetic substances and a range of practices and processes that are fundamentally incompatible with organic agriculture. The USDA is now asking for comments on its proposal. Due to strong public interest, the comment period has been extended until 30 April 1998.
    Along with the organic industry, many consumer, environmental and other public interest organizations have also declared the proposed regulations unacceptable.

US and international comments are requested, PANUPS, Pesticide Action Network North America (see page 2 for details), 20 February 1998.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 39, March 1998, page 11]