AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Fighting for a strong 'organic' label.(View point: THE CONSUMERS UNION PERSPECTIVE)
Competition is fierce for a sliver of the lucrative organic-foods pie. Witness the stream of efforts, including a recent change in the law, to weaken the "organic" label's meaning, mainly on processed food.
After years of wrangling, the label has become one of the most potent in the food industry. Consumer groups, including Consumers Union, publisher of CONSUMER REPORTS, believe that the label should live up to the confidence placed in it by an increasing number of Americans.
In 1990, the Organic Foods Production Act was passed by Congress as the base for an independent, public program. After years of debate, and a record 275,000 comments from the public, the National Organic Program was launched in 2002.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the act, guided by the National Organic Standards Board, a nongovernmental group that includes consumer advocates, farmers, and food processors. The board also has authority for approving all allowable nonorganic ingredients. Five percent of the ingredients in food labeled organic and 30 percent in "made with organic ingredients"may be nonorganic.
Since 2002, there have been repeated assaults on the board's authority and on the standards themselves from companies that want to reap the benefits of the organic label without the burden of higher production costs (see report on page 12). CU has been critical of both the Department of Agriculture and Congress for bowing to industry pressures and has worked to thwart many of those assaults.
Recently an amendment was slipped into the agriculture appropriations bill at the last minute and without opportunity for public input. The original law had barred the use of synthetic ingredients in the nonorganic portion allowed in food with the organic label. A 2005 court ruling upheld that standard, but the amendment to the appropriations bill overrode the court. That move to sidestep the court's decision was engineered by the Organic Trade Association and supported by some of its members, including ...
- National Organic Program.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Department of...
- Magazine article from: The Food Institute Report July 18, 2005 700+ words
NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM: USDA offers states participating in the National Organic Program the Allocation of Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds program...
- Complaint Filed with USDA's National Organic Program against 'Organic Water'...
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire February 18, 2004 700+ words
...Complaint to the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) against the company...corrupting the integrity of the National Organic Program." After receiving QAI's certification under the National Organic Program for food in the summer...
- USDA proposes bringing organic program into line with court...
- Newspaper article from: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News Clapp, Stephen May 15, 2006 700+ words
...proposed revising National Organic Program (NOP) regulations...transitioning into the organic program would no longer...the criteria and National Organic Standards Board...National List by the National Organic Standards Board...
- National Organic Program.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Brief article)
- Magazine article from: The Food Institute Report June 12, 2006 700+ words
National Organic Program: USDA published a final rule that revises the National Organic Program regulations to comply with the final judgment in the case of...
- USDA accused of weakening National Organic Program.(Labeling)(Agricultural...
- Newspaper article from: Food Chemical News Clapp, Stephen May 17, 2004 700+ words
...protesting changes to USDA's National Organic Program they say were made without...the "father" of the National Organic Program because of his role in...and concern with the [National Organic Program's] issuance of significant...
- National Organic Program.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)
- Magazine article from: The Food Institute Report September 12, 2005 700+ words
NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM: USDA plans to release the names of certified producers and handlers under the National Organic Program--no date given. Contact Keith Jones, Director, Program...
- National Organic Program faces court ruling, OIG report.(LABELING)
- Newspaper article from: Food Chemical News Clapp, Stephen August 8, 2005 700+ words
...will seek changes in the National Organic Program's authorizing legislation...protocols for working with the National Organic Standards Board or resolving...Implementation of the [National Organic Program] and resolution of program...
- National organic program.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Agricultural Marketing...
- Magazine article from: The Food Institute Report December 25, 2006 700+ words
NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM: Agricultural Marketing Service will release notices of noncompliance...the identity of each producer and handler certified under the National Organic Program, which has been suspended or revoked, as well as the reasons...
- Organic outrage: weakened labeling causes furor. (FIFRA/FQPA).(National Organic...
- Newspaper article from: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News Sugarman, Carole March 3, 2003 700+ words
...key provision of the new National Organic Program has disappeared before...founding father of the National Organic Program, who last week introduced...Act could "weaken" the National Organic Program. "It is important to...
- Making sense of organics. (USDA's proposed National Organic Program)
- Magazine article from: Food Processing Kracov, Daniel A. February 1, 1998 700+ words
USDA's proposed National Organic Program raises more than a few...come. Comments on the National Organic Program proposal, due by March...the Internet through the National Organic Program's home page at http...
