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Congress restores organic standards |
10.28.2005
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WASHINGTON--Congress restored provisions of the national organic standards Oct. 26--allowing non-organic ingredients such as baking powder, pectin and carbon dioxide--in foods that bear the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Organic seal.
After the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine's June 9 ruling in Harvey vs. Veneman, Congress had to settle the issues. The court ruling said there were technical inconsistencies between the Organic Foods Production Act, passed as part of the 1990 Farm Bill, and the National Organic Program standards, which was approved after 10 years of discussions and public comments.
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Congress adopted language submitted by the Greenfield, Mass.-based Organic Trade Association to amend OFPA to allow the continued use of a limited list of synthetic materials in post-harvest handling and processing as well as provisions for dairies converting to organic production.
Congress also directed the USDA to study the impact on the organic industry and report back in 90 days.
"If Congress had not acted, many of the organic products consumers know and love would have disappeared. That's not good for consumers or the organic farmers and organic companies that are working hard every day to continue to grow this industry," said Katherine DiMatteo, president of the 1,600-member OTA, in a prepared statement. Organic standards throughout the world allow specific synthetic materials.
Consumer groups such as the Organic Consumers Association opposed the OTA language saying that it weakens existing standards and undermines the authority of the NOSB. Opponents claim the integrity of organic food is at stake, and shoppers don't expect organic food to contain artificial ingredients.
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