> Excuse me if these ideas have already been covered. I am very behind
> in reading the Sanet posts.
>
>
> I wonder why there couldn't be just a USDA "certified organic FOR
> EXPORT" program for those who want to be able to participate in
> international markets, and those who only want domestic certification
> could opt for a cheaper private label certification?
>
> It seems to me that the most compelling reason for national
> standards is to facilitate international trade. For example, without
> national standards, trade with the EU is quite a bit more involved,
> less efficient (and for that reason more expensive) because we do not
> have a federal govt program, and there is always the chance that the
> EU will do what the Japanese have done and say "until you get
> national govt-instituted standards, we won't accept your organic
> label." (This is what I have been told is the latest stand of the
> Japanese, though I don't have a reference for this info.) Let me
> repeat this: there is tremendous pressure from external markets to
> have a national organic program that is put out by the government.
> This is not something that AMS invented just to make everyone's life
> more difficult! Organic export markets are lucrative (and
> potentially even more so) so this is an important issue. (Lawrence
> and Sal, if you want to know why it is that the EU and Japan and
> who-knows-next wants a stamp of approval from USDA rather than IFOAM
> or OTA, that is a whole other discussion/dilema.)
>
> However, in most cases, I'd guess (don't have stats) that the
> products of the vast majority of organic producers never get near
> international markets. Even now, most producers know that if they
> want to sell abroad, they better certify with one of the big,
> internationally recognized certifiers like Oregon Tilth, QAI, OCIA,
> etc. They wouldn't certify with Podunk Certified Organic
> Organization, even though the standards with Podunk might be rigorous
> and respectable. So I think that there is already a precident for
> this sort of two-tier certifying.
>
> I think it should be recognized that not all organic producers look
> alike. Bart has pointed out several time now that there is a wide
> range of quality and integrity. So I guess we shouldn't do away with
> the inspectors yet, as Sal suggests. But we could organize things a
> bit and allocate extra costs to those who will benefit from extra
> certification.. I don't see why a farmer who just wants to market at
> the farmer's market or to national stores with a certified organic
> label should pay the extra expenses incurred so that someone else can
> produce a product (or an ingredient of a product) that is intended
> for export.
>
> These are some of my thoughts as to the arrangement of the deck
> chairs, as long as we're consigned to life on the Titanic. I have to
> say that if we have the choice of changing boats, I much prefer
> Roberto's idea of putting the inspection burden on those who choose
> to farm with chemicals. Maybe the "sick" farm should have to get a
> "prescription" for his agro-chemicals! And while I'm designing this
> new LIFE boat.... Let's put the ideas of that design guy that Ann
> mentioned in charge of the Land Grant Schools of Agriculture
> curriculae. I just love the whole change of perspecitive offered in
> this scenario.
>
> Anita
>
> Anita Graf
> Market Development of National Organic Products
> University of Georgia
>
> make a difference: http://www.thehungersite.com
>
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