Organic Farmers Marketing Association, www.iquest.net/ofma/
Communication/Telecommunication Committee
Eric Kindberg, Co-chair, erorganic@aol.com
January 15, 1999
To not receive this type of bulletin send an email to erorganic@aol.com
Washington, Jan. 14, 1999
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced that certain meat and
poultry products will be allowed to carry a label indicating that they are
certified organic.
"This announcement means more information - and more choice - for American
consumers," said Glickman. "It will help organic family farmers and ranchers
further expand their already growing markets."
Meat and poultry products will be labeled "certified organic by (name of the
certifying entity)" if processors seek prior approval from USDA's Food
Safety and Inspection Service and the claim meets certain basic criteria.
Specifically, to use the claim in labeling, processors will need to show
that products have been certified as organic by an authority or entity that
certifies products as "organically" produced. That entity must have
standards that define "organically produced" and a system for ensuring that
products it certifies meet those standards. There are 33 private and 11
state organic certification entities, as well as a number of smaller
entities that provide self-certification.
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is currently revising its proposal
standardizing use of the term "organic." This proposal will be available for
public comment before it becomes final. But today's announcement means that
meat and poultry products can be labeled as organic in the interim. Fruits,
vegetables and other products are already permitted to carry and organic
label if they meet standards set by independent certifying agents.
The new policy is effective immediately. More information for producers is
available on the FSIS homepage at www.fsis.usda.gov and from the Labeling
and Additives Policy Division at 202-205-0279.
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