3-5-98
 
  This is something sent to me from another list.  You may be interested.
 
 
                   Thanks,
                   Ben Poehlman
                   [log in to unmask]
 
    P.S.-- I own a free environmental mailing list.  If you are
interested in joining (currently 60 members), e-mail me.
 
 
--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: [log in to unmask] (Ben M Poehlman)
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: <Forwarded Message>
Date: Thu, 05 Mar 1998 17:35:17 EST
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
 
--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: Janet Sawin <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Threat to organic foods standards
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 11:16:16 -0500
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
 
I thought this topic might be of interest to people on this list.
Following is a letter that people might want to print and send to the
U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Also, please post this on other lists where
there might be an interest. Thanks!
 
First some background info:
The Organic Food Production Act of the 1990 Farm Bill called for the
formation of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to advise and
make recommendations for the USDA on the formulation and implementation
of
the National Organic Program. The law stipulated that the NOSB's
recommendations were to be the primary source of guidance to the USDA
when
the agency wrote regulations on organic standards. The NOSB worked for
years to formulate regulations that represented a broad consensus of both
organic producers and consumers. The USDA is now ignoring many of the
critical recommendations made by the NOSB. The USDA did NOT incorporate
the following NOSB recommendations into their regulations:
 
1) Categorically exclude genetically engineered organisms, agricultural
inputs and processing agents from organic agriculture and production.
 
AND YET, genetically engineered foods are not natural. The long-term
effects on consumers, our global food supply and the environment are
unknown;
 
2) Exclude all uses of irradiation in the preparation of organic foods.
 
AND YET, the long-term health effects of food irradiation are  unknown.
The use of irradiation may actually reduce the incentive to develop
systems to effectively prevent contamination in food production;
 
3) Bar the use of sewage sludge in organic farming.
 
AND YET, municipal sewage sludge may contain heavy metals, chemicals and
other toxins. The use of sludge is counter to the basic tenets of organic
farming and the health effects are unknown;
 
4) Support the small farmers, certifiers, and processors as the backbone
of organic farmer.
 
AND YET, the lowest certification fees are set so high that small
farmers,
certifiers and processors, the historic pioneers of the organic movement,
will have difficulty participating in the National Organic Program.
 
***********************************************************************
(I did not write this letter, but picked it up in a natural foods market.
Feel free to make your own changes, additions, etc.)
 
***********************************************************************
 
TMD-94-00-2
Eileen S. Stommes, Deputy Administrator
USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, AG Stop 0275, Room 4007-So.
P.O. Box 96456
Washington, D.C. 20090-6456
(Fax: 202-690-4632)
 
Dear Ms. Stommes:
 
I am writing in response to the proposed National Organic Standards to
let
you know that I do not want genetically engineered organisms, processing
agents or agricultural inputs to be allowed in organic farming and
handling under any circumstances - even in a case by case basis. I also
ask that you prohibit the use of irradiation and sewage sludge in organic
farming and handling. And, I ask that the standard for the treatment of
livestock and the feed structure for certification be consistent with the
recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
 
The NOSB represents a broad consensus of organic farmers, manufacturers
and consumers regarding the principles of organic agriculture and food
production. To formulate regulations that do not reflect their
recommendations on genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge, the
needs of the small farmer and the treatment of animals will gravely
weaken
consumer confidence in the organic label and threaten the viability of
this industry.
 
Thank you for including my input in your final decision.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Date:
Name:
Address:
 
--------- End forwarded message ----------
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