Usda Offers New Organic Standard Proposal Disallows Foods Made With Genetically Engineered Seed, Sewage Sludge, Irradiation
After critics plowed through its first proposed nationwide organic standard, the U.S. Department of Agriculture this spring offered an improved version.
This time, the agency hopes to satisfy the concerns of consumers, environmentalists and farmers.
The biggest difference is that the new proposal prohibits organic foods made with genetically engineered seed, sewage sludge and irradiation.
The public has until Monday to comment on the proposed standard.
Organic industry advocates say the revised rule is much better than the one proposed two years ago. The first version drew more than 275,000 public comments to the USDA, many claiming the rules would compromise the principals of organic farming.
A few concerns have been expressed about the new proposal.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit group based in Cambridge, Mass., the new rule still has loopholes that could allow for large animal farms, which the group calls “animal factories,” which could potentially damage the environment just by sheer size of the operation. Also, the rules should assure outdoor access for poultry and pigs, the UCS said.
The group also believes the USDA should address the issue of gene pollution, since organic crops could be contaminated with pollen from genetically engineered crops nearby.
Spokane Valley resident Harlow Hotrum grows organic carrots and other crops on a small farm. He said he’s not concerned about genetically-altered foods cross-pollinating with his produce. “We’re about the only farmer around here,” he said.
But Hotrum worries that lower standards for other states will make it hard for small-scale farmers following Washington’s stringent rules to compete.
Even with a set of national standards, local farmers will still adhere to state rules, said Miles McEvoy, head of Washington’s Department of Agriculture organic program.
“There’s a couple areas where the national standard needs improvement,” said Holly Givens, spokeswoman for the Organic Trade Association, a group of farmers, shippers, retailers, exporters and restaurant executives. She said the standard is basically on track, but lacks a clause that allows for small dairy farms to convert easily to organic practices. And costs of testing and certification might be too great a burden for small farms, Givens said.
On the other hand, the USDA has added a labeling category of 100 percent organic, so consumers buying a multi-ingredient product like granola know that everything inside is organic, she said.
“Overall, it’s better than the previous proposed rule,” Givens said. “Still, it’s important for people to comment on it.”
To review the latest proposed standard on line, check out the USDA Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.