Home News and Events Menu Proposed Organic Rule Announced Sustainable Farming Connection Where farmers find and share information. Proposed Organic Rule Announced Finally! Proposed federal organic standards are unveiled for public comment. To make online comments about the rule, see For more information below. WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 1997 -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced publication of proposed regulations that would govern USDA's National Organic Program. The proposed standards define "organic" as agricultural products produced through a natural versus synthetic process. They also address the methods, practice, and substances used in producing and handling crops and livestock and their processed products, including: Producing and handling organic agricultural products. Labeling of organic products. Certification of organic operations. Accreditation of state and private certifying agents. Compliance testing. Equivalency of foreign organic certification programs. Approval of state organic programs. User fees. USDA will hold information sessions on the proposed rule around the country on dates and at locations that will be announced later. The proposed rule will be published in the Dec. 16 Federal Register. Comments must be received by March 16, 1998. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to: Eileen S. Stommes, Deputy Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 4007-S, Ag Stop 0275, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456. Comments also may be sent by FAX to (202) 690-4632 or via the Internet through the National Organic Program homepage at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. A copy of the proposed rule can be purchased for $8 from the Federal Register by calling (202) 512-1800. Source: Glickman Announces Publication of National Organic Program Proposed Rule -- USDA new release For more information: USDA-AMS National Organic Program Proposed Rule -- Read the proposed rule and make comments online. You can also read comments made by others. Organic Farmers Marketing Association -- Trade group plans side-by-side comparison of the Proposed Rule with the Organic Foods Production Act. Available 12/17/97. Discussion groups -- Subscribers to the sanet-mg and organic-certification eamil discussion groups have been actively debating the forthcoming federal standards. Join in: Send the message: subscribe sanet-mg to: majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu Send the message: subscribe organic-certification Your Name to: listproc@listserv.oit.unc.edu Organic Farming, Marketing, and Certification Resources -- Links for more online organic information. Reuters news releases: USDA rolls out standards for organic foods U.S. rules for organic food ban pesticides Key proposed U.S. rules for ``organic'' label USDA's organic rules sidestep biotechnology @gOnline Poll -- Cast your vote at Successful Farming's website: "Do you believe that organic foods are more nutritious--or safer--than other foods?" Top of Page Home News and Events Menu Proposed Organic Rule Announced ©1997 Committee for Sustainable Farm Publishing Please read about our usage permission policy and disclaimer. Send comments, suggestions and questions to the site author: Craig Cramer cdcramer@clarityconnect.com Coded using HoTMetaL Pro 3.0. Best viewed in Netscape 3.0 or later. Please see our credits page for more information. http://sunsite.unc.edu/farming-connection/news/stories/971225.htm