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Re: Organic Foods Production Act Implementation



>
>...as well as compliance with the wishes of consumers and growers. It's
>important to note that the government did not simply decide to create an
>organic foods production act out of the blue. It was demanded for years by
>proponents of organic production and their certifying agencies.
>
>>However, I do not agree with any interpretation of the OFPA that prevents
>>private certifiers from establishing additional, more stringent guidelines
>>for their seals.


I feel the government at this time can only give us minimum organic standard
but should not limit us to that alone.  I should be able to say on my label
I am organic and also biodynamics or I am organic and practice permacuture
or EM or I am organic and certified by IFOAM (International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movement) or CCOF . The gov. can only give a minimum
organic standard because they are making law but why place a restriction
like this . why stop progress.  Why stop folks going past the minimum
organic standards .People need a  minimum organic standards now because now
I see the word organic in that stores and people are buying organic milk and
organic meat and organic food now and need  minimum organic standards now.
Lets not hold up minimum organic standards now.  People need to know what
the minimum organic standards is now . What is the hold up?  I have been
paying a registration to the state of Cal. for 3 years .

  I can be registered organic and still be CCOF .  If I  want to sell
organic and if I am  also certified by IFOAM are you saying I can not do
that any more and have to give that up?  Or I want to be organic and use the
word biodynamic or etc. do I have to give that up. What about Kosher can I
be organic and also be certified Kosher. I'm organic plus certified by so
and so. What is wrong with that. That's voluntary these guys are making laws
and every time they  make a law they take away a right. they only have to
make sure those that those that  use the word organic meet Fed.  organic
standards so people know what organic means. 

>>Further, the enforcement of maximum organic standards would
>>make it impossible for growers to realize a return on any investment in the
>>more ambitious standards that I and many other consumers value.
 


>Ah, perhaps you can define those standards. What exactly is "more ambitions"
>than organic?
>
>>The Final Rules for implementation of the OFPA must not restrict private
>>certifiers' rights to establish independent standards for food quality.
>
>Oh, but they MUST! Otherwise, what's the point of this legislation?

the point of the legislation  IMHO was  to define for the people what
organic means so when they see it in the stores they know what that label
means and are fairly sure that the label is truthful. Not to limit people
right to be certified by an organizations bylaws. 

>Proponents of organic farming have essentially forced the US government to
>adopt these laws regulating organic foods. You asked for it, you got it.

I never asked for it. So do I still have to pay.


>Soon, the only standards will be the US Federal standards.

No I don't think so.  I have my standards and I will live by them but I will
meet the US Federal standards if I label my food organic because I know
people need to know what organic means.  So what does that organic label
mean?   




>>Such a restriction will only plunder our hard-won equity in the term
>>"organic" for the short-term benefit of minimally compliant growers and
>>processors. Please don't let this happen.
 

I don't think there should be a restriction to being organic plus something
else .  

>So is your real problem with "minimally compliant growers", or that the
>proposed standards are too low? I think I get the idea. You want to be able
>to say "we're REALLY organic, not just minimally compliant". I don't think
>you need any certification if you want to make that claim, but I don't think
>it carries much weight either.


I have no problem with folks that want to say they are organic and also
biodynamics,or Certified by IFOAM  or Kosher etc as long as they tell the
truth about  growing organic That's all the organic standards should care
about. .Let them keep their other standards and lets get on with it.  

   
>Tracy (growing and consuming organic since 1981)
>
>
http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html
a homepage for organic farmers
sals@rain.org
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