Organic Foods Production Act

Momentum for advancing organic standards builds in Congress

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, Juli 27, 2021
Product certification, Articles, National Organic Standards Board, Product, Organic certification, Organic wine, Organic Trade Association, Sustainability, Organic food, Organic Foods Production Act, Quality Assurance International

“The federal regulatory apparatus has fallen behind the evolving organic sector, and has slowed innovation and improvement within the industry. This legislation corrects the course forward,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association. “Our fly-in drove home to lawmakers the fact that the unique private-public partnership of organic and the federal government has made our organic system the gold standard for food and agricultural systems, and that we need to get that partnership back on track.”The CIAO bill has been endorsed by more than 55 organic farmers, businesses, consumers and environmental organizations, with a co-sponsor list that’s grown to 16 since its introduction. The National Organic Standards Board has also expressed unanimous support for the bill, saying the legislation respects the work of NOSB in clarifying and updating national organic standards. More than 50 current and former NOSB members have endorsed the bill.The legislation directly addresses the challenges of organic over the past two decades and provides a clear way to ensure the federal government keeps up with the organic market. It lays out a road forward for organic through three areas: it requires USDA to clear the backlog of stalled organic standards put forth by the industry and recommended by the National Organic Standards Board; it establishes a new framework for advancing future organic standards; and it ensures consistent application of new standards from organic certifiers.Participants in last week’s virtual fly-in came from all points of the organic supply chain and mirrored the diversity of organic--organic grain farmers and dairy and poultry producers, organic processors and consumer brands, organic flavor makers and fertilizer producers, organic certifiers and organic fiber stakeholders.

Key Points: 
  • Fifty members of the Organic Trade Association representing the entire organic supply chain recently met virtually with some 30 lawmakers to make sure that the organic sectors remarkable advancement continues.
  • The National Organic Standards Board has also expressed unanimous support for the bill, saying the legislation respects the work of NOSB in clarifying and updating national organic standards.
  • It lays out a road forward for organic through three areas:it requires USDA to clear the backlog of stalled organic standards put forth by the industry and recommended by the National Organic Standards Board; it establishes a new framework for advancing future organic standards; and it ensures consistent application of new standards from organic certifiers.
  • OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states.

Naturepedic Becomes First Non-Food Company to Complete Organic Fraud Prevention Program

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, Juli 14, 2021
Product certification, Articles, Economy, Product, Organic certification, National Organic Program, Organic Trade Association, Organic food, Organic product, Organic, Organic Foods Production Act

CHAGRIN FALLS,Ohio, July 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Leaders of the sustainable mattress revolution, Naturepedic has become the firstnon-food, certified organic product to complete the Organic Trade Association's new Organic Fraud Prevention Plan.

Key Points: 
  • CHAGRIN FALLS,Ohio, July 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Leaders of the sustainable mattress revolution, Naturepedic has become the firstnon-food, certified organic product to complete the Organic Trade Association's new Organic Fraud Prevention Plan.
  • The Organic Trade Association (OTA) recently launched its robust Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions program to help companies prepare for and comply with a proposed change in USDA organic regulations.
  • Naturepedic is proud to be the first non-food organic product to be certified by the OTA program as having an Organic Fraud Prevention Plan, a requirement under the new proposed Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule.
  • For media inquiries or more information about Naturepedic's involvement in the Organic Trade Association's organic fraud prevention program, please contact Sara White at [email protected] or 914-621-1323.

Cornucopia Continues Commitment to NOSB Reporting & Testimony

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, April 28, 2020
Articles, Product certification, National Organic Standards Board, Organic Foods Production Act, Organic certification, Organic food, Precautionary principle, National Ocean Sciences Bowl

Asserting its watchdog role within the organic community, Cornucopia continues its biannual coverage of the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting.

Key Points: 
  • Asserting its watchdog role within the organic community, Cornucopia continues its biannual coverage of the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting.
  • The NOSB is a 15-member expert advisory panel set up by Congress to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act.
  • In advance of the meeting, Cornucopia submitted official written comments .
  • Bio-based mulch films and fenbendazole: Cornucopia urges the NOSB to exercise the precautionary principle when considering these materials.

Organic Trade Association advances court battle to defend organic standards

Retrieved on: 
Donnerstag, Oktober 31, 2019
Product certification, Articles, Natural environment, Nature, Organic Trade Association, Organic food, Organic farming, Organic certification, Organic Foods Production Act

Washington D.C., Oct. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic Trade Association on Thursday asked the U.S. District Court to rule in its favor on its organic livestock welfare lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Key Points: 
  • Washington D.C., Oct. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic Trade Association on Thursday asked the U.S. District Court to rule in its favor on its organic livestock welfare lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • The motion asked the court to immediately vacate USDAs rescission and compel implementation of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule.
  • For the complete background on this issue, see https://ota.com/livestockpractices
    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America.
  • OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states.

OrganicEye Petitions USDA to Remove Carcinogen from Organic Food

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, Oktober 16, 2019
Garde manger, Chemistry, Amino acids, Physical sciences, Nitrogen cycle, Oxyanions, Product certification, Preservatives, Organic Foods Production Act, Nitrate, Nitrite, National Organic Standards Board

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to remove cancer causing nitrites from deli-type and other processed meats labeled organic, the industry watchdog OrganicEye has petitioned the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to remove cancer causing nitrites from deli-type and other processed meats labeled organic, the industry watchdog OrganicEye has petitioned the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
  • At its public meeting next week, the NOSB will consider whether cured organic meats may continue to be processed with nonorganic celery powder, which contains high levels of nitrates.
  • The Organic Foods Production Act prohibits synthetic nitrate use in organic crop production and adding nitrates or nitrites in processing.
  • OrganicEye is also recommending that the Board remove the synthetic amino acid methionine from the list of allowed synthetic substances, no longer allowing it to be added to organic poultry feed.

Organic Valley and Maple Hill Raise the Grass-Fed Organic Standard, Launch New Certified Grass-Fed Organic Livestock Program and Certification Mark

Retrieved on: 
Donnerstag, Februar 21, 2019
Product certification, Ecolabelling, Organic certification, Organic food, Product, Natural environment, Business ethics, Organic Foods Production Act, Organic egg production

The certification program brings much-needed consistency and transparency to grass-fed organic dairy standards for farmers, processors, manufacturers, certification bodies, retailers and consumers.

Key Points: 
  • The certification program brings much-needed consistency and transparency to grass-fed organic dairy standards for farmers, processors, manufacturers, certification bodies, retailers and consumers.
  • In order to protect the farmers who adhere to the strictest grass-fed production standards, Maple Hill and Organic Valley began working on the certification program in 2017.
  • The new Certified Grass-Fed Organic Livestock Program is built on the foundation of organic, meaning a farm must first be certified organic to participate in the program.
  • "And for Maple Hill the launch of the new program is a meaningful way for us to mark 10 years delivering 100% grass-fed organic dairy.

Organic Industry Watchdog, Cornucopia, Shuffles Leadership, Squares Off with Powerful Lobbyists

Retrieved on: 
Montag, Oktober 22, 2018
Sewerage, Sanitation, Public health, Hygiene, Euthenics, Health, Waste management, United States Department of Agriculture, Sewage sludge, Organic Foods Production Act, Disinfectant, Sewage

"Organic regulations already prohibit using sewage sludge because of contamination with toxins and heavy metals," said Mark A. Kastel, Cornucopia's executive director.

Key Points: 
  • "Organic regulations already prohibit using sewage sludge because of contamination with toxins and heavy metals," said Mark A. Kastel, Cornucopia's executive director.
  • The NOSB is a 15-member expert advisory panel set up by Congress to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act.
  • As for meat carcass disinfectants, Burcham said, "Processing plants should practice better sanitation instead of trying to clean up fecal contamination after the fact."
  • "I have known and worked with our codirector Will Fantle for almost 30 years," said Kastel.