Weakened Organic Standards?

Some of the nation’s organic farmers are hopping mad over new U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines that are perceived as weakening the federal organic label. USDA officials, on the other hand, still wonder what all the fuss is about.

The guidelines, released last month, were in response to questions from government certifiers who oversee certification of organic labeling.

Barbara Robinson, deputy administrator of the USDA’s National Organic Program, said the guidelines were merely an attempt to ensure the standards were applied consistently. However, Jim Riddle of Winona, Minn., vice chairman of the 15-member National Organic Standards Board that advises USDA about organic standards, says the new guidelines “are contrary to the regulations as written…”

Posted by Jim Langcuster at May 26, 2004 09:09 AM | TrackBack