Freedom of Information

Douglas Hinds (dmhinds@acnet.net)
Sun, 26 Oct 1997 13:03:45 -0600

The fundamental issue underlying mandatory organic certification is the
right to know and make known information of intrinsic importance in food
labeling and advertising. (This is an issue which goes beyond the sales
of organic foods, since GE investors are pushing to prohibit labeling
which discriminates between GE and non GE products).

The Organic Foods Production Act prohibits the use of words Organic and
Natural in relation to agricultural products that fulfill the terms of a
legally valid description of organic status, unless they were subject to
an obligatory third party certification. This entails increased
expenditure and involvement in bureaucratic procedures on the part of
the grower, processor or seller and even though in practical terms,
certification may well be required by a given buyer in many if not most
cases, the public's right to inform and be informed is violated by this
provision.

Although there may be legitimate reasons for mandating certification,
our feeling is that the above issue is the over-riding one and that a
need exists to unify an organized front or coalition of individuals and
groups whose sympathies and beliefs are similar, in order to more
effectively make our point of view felt in the most appropriate and
strategic forums.

To that end, I invite those who agree, to e-mail us (please send a copy
to one of our additional e-mail addresses to be safe) with either "No
Obligatory Certification" or "Freedom of Information" as the subject and
an indication in the body regarding the extent of your ability to
contribute research or communications skills to the cause. In any case,
it will be inferred that the sender is interested in receiving a
position paper containing a statement that he, she or they may be
willing to help draw up or at least sign, which will be later circulated
among those with some power of decision over the matter.

Beyond that, I personally see little need to occupy this list server
with much additional debate on this subject. What IS called for is a
little action by like minded people and groups, which I'm offering to
help coordinate.

Thank you for your attention.

-- 


Douglas M. Hinds, Director General
Centro para el Desarrollo Comunitario y Rural A.C. (CeDeCoR)
(Center for Community and Rural Development) - (non profit)
Petronilo Lopez No. 73 (Street Address)
Apdo. Postal No. 61 (Mailing Address)
Cd. Guzman, Jalisco 49000 MEXICO
U.S. Voice Mailbox:  1 630 300 0550 (e-mail linked)
U.S. Fax Mailbox:  1 630 300 0555 (e-mail linked)
Tel. & Fax:  011 523 412 6308 (direct)
e-mail: cedecor@ipnet.com.mx, dmhinds@acnet.net, dhinds@.ucol.mx




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