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Subject: LABELS: Linking Consumers and Producers Vol. 1, Number 7
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LABELS: Linking Consumers and Producers - Vol. 1, Number 7 January 15, 1998
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Table of Contents
- U.S. Proposed Organic Rule Impacts Eco-Labeling, Comment Period Is Now
- ISO Forestry Press Release Attacked as False, Withdrawn
- Austria Develops Own GMO Label, Labeling Debated Heavily Throughout EU
- Country-of-Origin Labeling Supported by ACGA and NCBA, Controversial Among Distributors
- Label It! Certified Predator Friendly Wool
- News Briefs
- Resource
- Events
- Quote of the Week
U.S. PROPOSED ORGANIC RULE IMPACTS ECO-LABELING, COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on a
proposal to establish a National Organic Program (NOP), as proposed
under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). Subpart C of the
proposed organic rule addresses rules for labels, labeling and market
information. A USDA fact sheet on the proposed rules states, "The OFPA
is intended to protect consumers and to ensure that 'organic' really
means 'organic.' Any agricultural product labeled to imply, directly or
indirectly, that the product is produced and handled using organic
methods will have to be produced and handled in accordance with the
proposed National Organic Program standards, and certified according to
the proposed National Organic Program certification requirements by a
USDA-accredited certifying agent." Labeling organizations fear this
rule would lead to the end of the ecolabeling of agricultural products
which do not comply with NOP standards yet are grown using certified
ecological, regional and/or social production practices. Fred
Kirschenmann, organic farmer, comments, "The regulations, as proposed,
would eliminate any real differentiation of food products through
labeling thus ending consumer ability to "boycott" or "buycott" food
products with their shopping dollars to support environmental goals. In
other words, [they] could end all eco-labeling." Kirschenmann describes
examples of the kind of labels that would be prohibited under the
regulation, including "ecologically produced," "produced without
synthetic fertilizers," and "sustainably harvested," among others.
The following is a digest of the NOP proposed rules which impact
labeling and marketing. The text is excerpted from a USDA fact sheet.
A copy of the proposed rule is available for $8.00 by calling the
Federal Register at +01/202/512/1800. The proposed view can also be
viewed on the world wide web at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/rule.txt.
PROCESSED PRODUCTS LABELED AS ORGANIC
Products labeled as organic would consist of at least 95 percent
organically produced ingredients, excluding water and salt. These
products would be able to use the word "organic" in front of the product
name on the principal display panel, such as "organic pancake mix,"
"organic orange juice," or "organic salsa." The product's principal
display panel could also show the USDA seal and the seal of an approved
State organic program, if the product was produced and certified in that
State. These seals, as well as information about the certifying agent
used, could also be displayed on the information panel and in other
market information.
PROCESSED PRODUCTS LABELED AS MADE WITH CERTAIN
ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
Packaged products that contain 50-95 percent organic ingredients could
use only the phrase "made with certain organic ingredients" on the
principal display panel. The USDA seal and a State seal could not
appear anywhere on the package, but identification of the manufacturer's
certifying agent could appear on the information panel or any other part
of the label or market information.
OTHER LABEL RESTRICTIONS
The proposed regulations would prohibit claims on the principal display
panel and ingredients statement about the percentage of organic
ingredients, but would allow such claims on the information panel.
There would be no additional restrictions on the display of any truthful
information on product labeling or other market information, including
information about specific farm, livestock management, or handling
practices that have been used for the product. The regulations proposed
for organically produced products and
products labeled as made with certain organic ingredients would not
supersede other regulatory agencies' product labeling requirements.
PENALTIES FOR MISUSE OF LABELS
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 provides for the imposition of
a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for any person who knowingly sells or
labels as organic a product that was not produced and
handled according to the National Organic Program standards, and that
was not certified according to the National Organic Program
certification requirements. After the National Organic Program is
implemented, organic farmers and handlers will be given sufficient time
to revise their labels to conform with the final regulations, and to use
up existing labels.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to: Eileen S.
Stommes, Deputy Administrator, USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, Room 4007-S, Ag Stop
0275, PO Box 96456, Washington DC 20090-6456. Comments may also be sent
via fax to +01/202/690/4632 or on the world wide web through the NOP
homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
Frederick Kirschenmann, "The Proposed Organic Rule: It's Not Just About
Sewage Sludge, GEO's and Irradiation"; "National Organic Program
Proposed Rule Labeling and Market Information Fact Sheet," UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, December 1997.
ISO FORESTRY PRESS RELEASE ATTACKED AS FALSE, WITHDRAWN
In a major embarrassment, the International Standards Organization (ISO)
retracted a press release issued by Ken Shirley, conveyor of the ISO
working group on forestry, on November 10, 1997, which stated that an
"international group" has "identified the ISO 14001 Standard for
Environmental Management as the most appropriate tool to improve
forestry practice worldwide" and included a list of environmental
organizations he stated were in agreement. After two weeks of sharp
criticism, Shirley was forced to re-write and re-issue the release. The
new release stated that an international group "…identified the ISO
14001 standard as an excellent way to formalize a forestry
organization's commitment to sound principles of environmental
management."
In a letter to Dr. Margaret Kerr, Chair of the key ISO committee,
Deborah Siefert, manager of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Initiative: ISO 14000 project based at the Community Nutrition Institute
in Washington DC, stated, [the] "ISO press release confirms the worst
fears of many NGOs regarding active involvement with the ISO standards
setting process. NGOs are hesitant to participate in the development of
ISO 14000 environmental management system standards because they fear
that their organization's involvement will be used to mislead the public
on vital environmental issues. The press release from Mr. Shirley
justifies that concern. His statement that 'an international group'
which was 'comprised of forest owners associations, forest industry,
consumer organizations, environmental NGOs' had 'identified ISO 14001
Standard for Environment Management as the most appropriate tool to
improve forestry practices world wide' is not true." The original press
release was seen by many NGOs as a direct attack on the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification Initiative, which many in the
forest industry oppose. Some NGOs believe that the ISO forestry process
is designed to undermine third party labeling efforts like those which
participate in the Forest Stewardship Council.
Deborah Siefert, Letter to Dr. Kerr; Ken Shirley, GLOBAL COMMITMENT TO
SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT, November 10, 1997; Ken Shirley, ISO
FORESTRY WORKING GROUP COMPLETES TECHNICAL REPORT, November 27, 1997.
AUSTRIA DEVELOPS OWN GMO LABEL, LABELING DEBATED HEAVILY THROUGHOUT EU
Austrian environmentalists, farmers, food producers, and grocery stores
have banded together to create the first European nation-wide seal
guaranteeing that foodstuffs do not contain genetically modified (GM)
ingredients. The coalition includes Greenpeace, Global 2000, farmers,
and the major grocery chains Billa, Spar, and Adeg. Florian Faber,
managing director for the Working Group for Foods Produced Without
Genetic Engineering, said the European Commission (EC) has requested
that the working group compile documentation of similar initiatives
developing in other European Union (EU) countries. To obtain a seal
from the organization, producers must be able to prove that no GM
materials have been used in any step of the process and must be open to
outside monitoring.
The EC did not win approval from member states on December 18, 1997, for
their proposed rules of mandatory labeling of all foods containing or
derived from GM corn or soybean. The EC favors analysis for the presence
of modified DNA, but where traces have been destroyed by processing,
food would not be labeled. Food experts from 15 EU member countries
have begun dissecting the EC plans following complaints from consumer
groups, environmental lobbies, the European Parliament and some EU
governments that consumers would not be properly informed under this
plan. European Consumers Organisation (BEUC) director Jim Murray
criticized the EC suggestion for a label indicating that a product "may
contain" GM products if it is unclear whether GM products are present in
bulk or unsegregated deliveries. "If every product on the supermarket
shelf was labeled 'may contain,' there would be no consumer choice at
all." Food manufacturers and some EU governments, however, say the EC
proposal is too stringent.
Fears about the safety of current authorization procedures have already
led both Luxembourg and Austria to ban imports of Novartis corn. This
month, EU governments again delayed the decision whether or not to
repeal the ban, an EC official said. National experts put off the vote
until March.
The U.S. is firmly against the EC GM label proposal. "We strongly
oppose efforts to have mandatory labeling and or segregation of
genetically engineered products," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan
Glickman commented in early December. Glickman said he hopes the
labeling proposal is dropped because it could become a trade barrier.
Canada does not share the U.S. criticism of the EC proposal. "From our
point of view, this is a labeling issue," said Agriculture Canada trade
specialist Charles Craddock, "We decide what labels to use here and they
can do the same."
Arthur Rogers, "Confusion Over Standards for Safe Food Continue in
European Parliament," THE LANCET, January 10, 1998; Barry Wilson,
"Canada Won't Fight Biotech Food Labeling in Europe," THE WESTERN
PRODUCER, December 18, 1997; "Confidence Crisis Over Genetic Beans,"
BBC, January 12, 1998; "Consumers Criticize EU Plan to Label Gene
Foods," REUTERS, January 13, 1998; "Diverse Group Unites to Create Seal
Guaranteeing Foodstuffs Are Free From GMOs," INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
REPORTER, December 10, 1997; Gillian Handyside, "EU Gnawed by Worries
Over Genetically Changed Foods," REUTERS, January 6, 1998; Leslie
Adler, "Monsanto Aims to Advertise Safety of Gene Foods," REUTERS,
January 8, 1998; "U.S. Opposes EC Labeling Proposal - Glickman,"
REUTERS, 1997.
COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING SUPPORTED BY ACGA AND NCBA, CONTROVERSIAL AMONG DISTRIBUTORS
The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) and National Cattlemen's
Beef Association (NCBA) have both issued statements in support of
country-of-origin labeling. The ACGA endorses House Rule 2332, proposed
by Terry Everett (R-AL), which requires all frozen produce be labeled
with its country of origin on the front panel of the package. In
addition, ACGA hopes to extend legal language to include fresh fruits,
vegetables and imported meat products. The beef industry commissioned a
panel to research and analyze the issue which recently announced support
for labeling of both U.S. and foreign beef. Industry panel chair Stan
Flitner, a Wyoming-based producer, remarked, "Consumers have a right to
know the origin of the meat they purchase."
Some distributors are irritated because they sense that
country-of-origin labeling regulations are supported not to protect or
inform consumers, but to make things difficult for those who grow or
ship foreign product. Martin Ley, business manager at Del Campo
Gargiulo, said those promoting country-of-origin labeling "are creating
a platform to be on the attack against Mexico." Jerry Wagner, sales
manager at Farmer's Best International LLC, called country-of-origin
labeling a "scare tactic." He believes, however, that while short-term
economic damage to foreign produce is likely, consumers will "start
seeing the superior [Mexican-grown] product on the shelf and the garbage
our competitors offer in the same time frame." Jesus Lopez Jr., sales
manager at Big Chuy Distributors and Sons, Inc., said Big Chuy already
labels its squash with country-of-origin stickers. "There are a lot of
people who prefer the quality of Mexican products to Florida-grown
vegetables."
Current U.S. law, as stated in section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (as
amended) requires that any product (or its container) imported into the
United States be labeled in a "conspicuous place…legibly, indelibly, and
permanently" to ensure that the purchaser is aware of its country of
origin. Customs proposes to amend its regulations to require that the
country of origin of imported produce be marked on the front panel of
packages of frozen produce so the marking complies with the statutory
requirement that it be in a "conspicuous place." Customs opened the
proposal for public comment in 1996 and is currently reviewing comments
received in response to the proposed amendment.
"Country of Origin Labeling Bill Endorsed," CORN GROWER REPORT, January
1998; "Current Law & The Proposed Regulation," AMERICAN ALLIANCE FOR
HONEST LABELING HOME PAGE, http://www.honestlabeling.org/regulation.html
; "Leading Member of House Agriculture Committee Introduces Country of
Origin Legislation," AMERICAN ALLIANCE FOR HONEST LABELLING press
release, July 31, 1997; Tom Burfield, "Labeling Laws Spark Price
Fears," The PACKER, January 5, 1998.
LABEL IT! CERTIFIED PREDATOR FRIENDLY WOOL
A diverse coalition of sheep ranchers, a predator biologist, a clothing
designer, and environmentalists have joined together amidst intense
rancher/environmentalist conflict to develop Predator Friendly (PF),
Inc., a certification organization for wool growers who utilize
non-lethal methods of controlling predators. The idea grew alongside the
Growers' Wool Cooperative (GWC), formed in Belgrade, Montana to reduce
the impact of sheep operations on predator populations while enhancing
the economic viability of sheep producers. GWC members are certified PF
and contract their wool to home-based knitters in Montana to make hats,
sheepskins, blankets and sweaters. The Coop is working to guarantee
growers a premium above conventional market prices of $.5 - 1.00. "The
business of taking our raw wool all the way to finished product is time
consuming and expensive, but rewarding to those of us who seek an
alternative to the wars between the environmental and agricultural
communities," Becky Weed, president of the GWC, comments.
Wool growers become certified as Predator Friendly (PF) by signing an
affidavit agreeing to disallow any lethal control (shooting, trapping,
poisoning) to leased and rancher-owned sheep grazing lands. Predator
Friendly, Inc., a non-profit organization, monitors farms by
interviewing growers and occasionally visiting the farms. A grower need
not be part of the GWC to be certified PF. Non-lethal methods of
controlling predators include using guard animals such as llamas, dogs,
and burros.
Six ranchers are currently involved in the project, although the GWC has
received inquiries from many sheep producers all over the United States.
Information about the GWC and PF wool is available on the world wide web
at http://www.forwool.com/ or by contacting Rebecca Weed, President of
GWC, at forwool@imt.net.
GROWERS WOOL COOPERATIVE HOME PAGE, http://www.forwool.com; Jim Robbins,
"Sheep Ranchers Use Llamas to Foster Ecologically Friendly Wool Market,"
NEW YORK TIMES, December 15, 1997; Rebecca Weed, personal communication,
January 7 & 13, 1997.
Label It! is a regular feature of LABELS which highlights a labeling
initiative. Please send suggestions and/or a description of your label
initiative to Kathryn Gilje at kgilje@iatp.org or +01/612/823/6802.
NEWS BRIEFS
MERCOSUR INITIATES DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLABEL
The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) countries are developing a
regional environmental certification program to be completed by 1999,
according to Alejandro Issarria, technical coordinator with Argentina's
Secretary of Natural Resources and Human Environment. MERCOSUR
countries, which include Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, are
interested in tapping increasing environmental markets abroad,
especially as the Free Trade Zone of the Americas is formed. Each
country will develop and maintain its own certification program; a
MERCOSUR green stamp will be developed to coordinate and harmonize the
different systems. "MERCOSUR Plans Regional 'Green Stamp' Environmental
Certification Program by 1999," INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT REPORTER,
December 10, 1997.
ORGANIC FARMERS WRITE TO USDA OVER MEAT LABEL
Organic farmers from Organic Valley, Coleman Ranches, Inc., Petaluma
Poultry and the Organic Trade Association wrote to Ms. Catherine Woteki,
Under Secretary of Food Safety, on December 18, 1997, to request a
meeting to discuss policy regarding organic meat labels. The Food Safety
Inspection Service (FSIS) currently prohibits the use of organic labels
on meat and poultry products. The prohibition was passed as a temporary
measure until the publication of the USDA organic standards rule. The
group of organic farmers are requesting the FSIS implement a "fast
track" process that will allow organic labels to differentiate organic
meat products from other livestock food products. Timothy J. Sullivan,
LETTER TO MS. CATHERINE E. WOTEKI, December 18, 1997.
THREE COMPANIES SIGN ON TO SA8000, UNIVERSAL STANDARD FOR ETHICAL
SOURCING
Avon Cosmetics, Toys R Us and Otto-Versand are the first signatories to
Social Accountability (SA)8000, the first standardization process for
ethical sourcing. SA8000 has been developed by the Council on Economic
Priorities, a New York organization which analyzes the social and
environmental track record of international businesses. SA8000 criteria
address trade union rights, child labor, work hours, occupational
health, and fair pay and working conditions. Participating companies
will by monitored by a third party organization. Deborah Liepziger,
director of the Council, comments, "Growing numbers of consumers across
the world are demanding assurance that the goods on sale in stores are
produced under humane working conditions. The value to the bottom line
in taking a lead on the issue of ethical sourcing is incalculable."
Virginia Matthews, "Framework for Ethical Sourcing," FINANCIAL TIMES,
December 12, 1997.
U.S. INITIATIVE AIMS TO BLOCK CARPET IMPORTS MADE WITH CHILD LABOR
The International Labor Rights Fund has asked the U.S. Customs Service
to prohibit the entry of Indian hand-knotted carpets unless they bear a
label certifying that the carpets were not made with child labor.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has simultaneously introduced a bill that
encourages U.S. importers to attach a similar child labor free label.
"Where there is independent monitoring and random inspections, a label
can literally stamp out child labor," Harkin commented. Tim Shorrock,
"Child Labor Bill Would Call India on the Carpet," JOURNAL OF COMMERCE,
December 29, 1997.
RESOURCE
· The Green Food Shopper: An Activist's Guide to Changing the Food
System, by Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet, 1997. The Green Food
Shopper is a tool designed to help consumers secure accessibility to
desired foods in the local marketplace. This guide discusses the
Mothers & Others Shoppers' Campaign for Better Food Choices, launched in
1993-1994, the eight steps to a "green diet" and leads readers through
the community organizing process for changing our food system. The
guide addresses philosophical underpinnings for these changes as well as
practical how-to guidelines and hands-on tools. The book finishes with
a chapter on relevant resources - books, organizations and websites.
The Green Food Shopper is available from Mothers & Others for a Livable
Planet, 40 West 20th Street, New York, New York 10010, ph:
+01/212/242/0010, fax: +01/212/242/0545, email: mothers@mothers.org,
website: http://www.mothers.org/mothers.
EVENTS
· Exploring Organic Alternatives: Meeting the Challenges of
Agriculture, Health and Community. February 8 - 10, 1998. University
of Saskatchewan, Canada. Hart Haidn, chair of one of the organizing
groups, the Committee on Rural Alternatives (CORA), summarizes the
conference objectives, "We want to offer a wide audience the opportunity
to look at organic agriculture, to examine and debunk some of the myths
about organic production and food security, and to strengthen existing
networking between farmers, academics, concerned consumers and
government policy-makers." For information, contact Hart Haidn, ph:
+01/250/785/3300 or Joanne Kowalski, ph: +01/306/966/8894.
· Fresh Ideas '98 Tent at Natural Products Expo West. March 12, 1998.
Co-sponsored by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and New Hope
Communications. The Fresh Ideas Tent is an exhibit area for certified
organic products during the Natural Products Expo West Trade Show. It
is located outside on the lawn and scheduled after the organic seminars
and farm tours to attract attendees specifically interested in organics.
Contact Katherine DiMatteo, ph: +01/413/774/7511, email:
ota@igc.apc.org. For more information about OTA, see their website,
http://www.ota.com.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I'm talking of an industry which can market a Cornish dairy chocolate
ice cream which doesn't come from Cornwall, isn't made in a diary, and
contains neither chocolate nor cream." Derek Cooper, Presenter of the
BBC Radio series "The Food Programme" addressing a Soil Association
conference which launched a campaign to link farmers with consumers. The
proceedings "Food, Farming and Society" are published jointly by the
Soil Association and the International Society for Ecology and Culture
(ISEC).
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kgilje@iatp.org or find the bulletin at <http://www.sustain.org/
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Produced by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Mark
Ritchie, President. Editor: Kathryn Gilje, e-mail iatp@iatp.org.
European correspondent: Leentje den Boer. E-mail versions are available
free of charge. For information about fax or mail subscriptions or for
a list of other IATP publications, contact the Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy, 2105 First Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
55404. phone: 612-870-0453, fax: 612-870-4846, e-mail iatp@iatp.org.
For information about IATP's contract research services, contact Dale
Wiehoff, dwiehoff@iatp.org.
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